China's consumer inflation hit an 18-month low and factory-gate price declines sped up in March as demand stayed persistently weak, shoring up the case for policymakers to take more steps to support the uneven economic recovery, Reuters reported. In contrast to surging prices globally, China's retail and producer inflation has remained anaemic as the consumer and industrial sectors struggle to recover from their pandemic hit. Analysts now think consumer inflation could fall short of Beijing's official targets this year.

China's new bank lending hit an all-time high in the first quarter while broad credit growth quickened as the central bank kept up policy support for the economy after the lifting of stringent COVID-19 curbs, Reuters reported. The world's second-largest economy rebounded from pandemic disruptions driven by consumption and infrastructure. To spur credit growth, the central bank in March cut banks' reserve requirement ratio (RRR) for the first time this year.

Australia’s consumer confidence surged and business sentiment showed ongoing resilience after the country’s Reserve Bank left its key interest rate unchanged for the first time in its almost yearlong tightening cycle, Bloomberg News reported. Consumer sentiment jumped 9.4% in April to 85.8, a Westpac Banking Corp. survey showed Tuesday. Still Westpac’s Chief Economist Bill Evans expects household spending this year to be lackluster with confidence remaining 10.4% below the level in April 2022, the month before the RBA began raising rates. A separate National Australia Bank Ltd.

South Korea's central bank on Tuesday held interest rates steady and warned against expectations for a rate cut within this year, saying cooling but still high inflation posed a bigger risk than an economic slump. Remarks by the bank's governor at a news conference were largely neutral, but economists said the unanimous rate decision indicated the board has turned more dovish than at the previous meeting, when there was one member voting for a hike. The Bank of Korea's board kept the base rate unchanged at 3.50%, as it did on Feb. 23 and as expected.

India's bankruptcy court has allowed the acquisition of Anudan Properties by Mumbai-based developer KGK Realty (India). The Committee of Creditors (CoC) approved KGK Realty's resolution plan with 76.35% voting, the Economic Times of India reported. Other developers such as Aanya Real Estate and a consortium of Ashdan Properties, and NNP Buildcon had also submitted revival plans for the company. The development is an indication of the rising trend of several established developers with sound financials scouting for deals in the property sector through the bankruptcy process.

Cash-strapped Shanghai-listed Chinese property developer Sichuan Languang Development is facing delisting risks, after its closing price fell below one yuan per share for two consecutive days and the company warns of insolvency, Nikkei Asia reported. Shares of Sichuan Languang tumbled 7.77% from 1.07 yuan ($0.16) to close at 0.95 yuan on Thursday. On Friday, the company closed further down 2.11% to 0.93 yuan per share. That puts the developer on the cusp of getting booted from the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE).

Some smaller Chinese lenders cut interest rates for time deposits over the weekend, following a similar move by their larger rivals last year, after several lending rate reductions by policy makers started to squeeze their margins, Bloomberg News reported. Rural lenders in provinces including Henan and Hubei lowered deposit rates by as much as 45 basis points on some tenors, according to their announcements. After the adjustment, these lenders will pay an annual 1.9% for one-year deposits, down from the previous 2.25%.

Growth in sales of China's passenger vehicles was flat in March from a year earlier, industry data showed on Monday, as more price cuts by auto brands and the rollout of incentives by local governments helped to support demand, Reuters reported. Car sales in March were 1.61 million units, the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) said. In the first three months, sales had fallen 13.4% to 4.33 million units, it added.

Mt Gox has issued notice stating that the deadline for the Selection and Registration has expired, and now, the rehabilitation creditors cannot make changes without the approval of the Rehabilitation Trustee, beincrypto.com reported. The deadlines were extended multiple times, first to Mar. 10 and then eventually to Apr. 6, 2023. The Trustee will work towards making the Base, Intermediate, and Early Lump-Sum repayments by Oct. 31, 2023. However, the notice reads that the deadline might get extended due to various circumstances with the permission of the Tokyo District Court.