Japan Diet opening, South Korea GDP, China New Year travel data - Nikkei Asia

Welcome to Your Week in Asia.

China and many other places in Asia have entered the Lunar New Year holiday, with many Chinese tourists traveling overseas this year after Beijing eased its strict border control measures. Domestically in China, travel data to be released later in the week will gauge consumers' appetite following the easing of its prolonged "zero-COVID" policy.

Meanwhile, Japan begins its annual session of parliament on Monday. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will explain his policy priorities at a time when he is facing low approval ratings.

Japan is likely to be blasted by the coldest air of the winter over the coming week. Amid a global increase in the cost of energy, Japan's Tokyo Electric Power Holdings is expected to submit a plan to the government early this week for an increase of about 30% in electricity rates for most households.

This will be the first increase in rates since 2012, when the company's business deteriorated after the Great East Japan Earthquake.

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MONDAY

Japan Diet session

Japan's ordinary Diet session opens on Monday, with Prime Minister Kishida slated to make a policy speech explaining his priorities this year, including measures to tackle declining births in the country. Other key themes discussed during the session will include defense spending, wage rises and energy strategy. The session will last until June 21.

TUESDAY

Earnings: Nidec

WEDNESDAY

Earnings: Tesla

Monetary policy announcement: Thailand

THURSDAY

South Korea GDP

South Korea is due to release its gross domestic product for the fourth quarter of 2022 and the full-year 2022. The country's third quarter GDP was up 0.3% from the previous quarter and rose 3.1% from a year earlier.

FRIDAY

China's New Year consumption trends

China will release preliminary data on consumption trends during the seven-day Lunar New Year holidays, during which millions of Chinese traveled without COVID restrictions for the first time in three years. The data on passenger trips and tourist receipts will gauge consumer appetite on the back of a 0.2% contraction in total retail sales last year.

WEEKEND

Australian Open finals

The Australian Open tennis tournament will close at the weekend, with the women's singles final scheduled on Saturday and the men's singles final on Sunday.

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