This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly on August 10, 2026 - August 16, 2026

With the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections done and dusted, the focus will shift to the release of Malaysia’s final gross domestic product (GDP) data for the second quarter of 2026 (2Q2026) on Friday (Aug 14). Malaysia’s 2Q current account balance will also be released on the same day, while June Industrial Production Index (IPI) data will be published on Aug 11.

Malaysia’s advance GDP estimates showed the economy expanded 5.8% year on year in 2Q2026, accelerating from the 5.4% growth recorded in the first quarter.

Other economies releasing their final 2Q2026 GDP data include Singapore on Tuesday, followed by the UK on Thursday, and Taiwan and Hong Kong on Friday. Hong Kong’s announcement will also include its revised full-year 2026 GDP forecast.

“[Singapore’s] Ministry of Trade and Industry is likely to upgrade its official 2026 GDP forecast range to 4% to 5% (from 2% to 4%), although we would not be surprised by an even stronger revision to 4.5% to 5.5%,” UOB Global Economics and Markets Research economist Alvin Liew said in a weekly outlook report last Friday.

Singapore will celebrate its 61st National Day on Aug 9, with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong delivering his third National Day Message on Aug 8 and his National Day Rally speech on Aug 23.

Attention will also be on the release of inflation data from major economies, beginning with the US’ July Consumer Price Index (CPI) and core Producer Price Index (PPI) on Aug 12.

China and India will announce their July CPI data on Aug 9 (Sunday). Other data from China include the core CPI and July PPI on Aug 9, while July M2 money supply figures will be released between Aug 9 and 15 (most likely on Aug 13), along with July aggregate financing and new CNY loans.

Meanwhile, India’s other key economic data releases include July trade data between Aug 12 and 14, and the July Wholesale Price Index on Aug 14.

There is one key monetary policy meeting taking place in the Asia-Pacific region this week — the Reserve Bank of Australia’s 

(RBA) meeting on Aug 11, while Norges Bank will announce its August monetary policy decision on Aug 13.

Japan’s data releases include its June trade balance on a balance of payments basis and the July Economy Watchers Survey on Aug 10, while its July PPI will be released on Aug 13.

The Bank of Japan will release the summary of opinions from its July monetary policy meeting on Aug 10.

Besides announcing its 2Q2026 GDP data, the UK will also release June monthly GDP, June industrial production, June construction output, the June index of services and June trade data on Aug 13.

In the US, more than 1,300 companies are scheduled to report earnings during the week of Aug 10 to 14.

“But the number of S&P 500 companies reporting is markedly reduced, to just nine (from 137 in the previous week). Of great interest will be Friday (Aug 14), which is the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) deadline for institutional investment managers (hedge funds) to disclose their equity holdings under 13F filings [quarterly filings with the SEC],” said Liew.

Besides inflation, the US economic calendar will focus on retail sales and consumer sentiment data, beginning with the July Labour Market Report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Aug 7; the National Federation of Independent Business’ July Small Business Optimism Index and July existing home sales on Aug 11; initial jobless claims on Aug 13; followed by July advance retail sales, the preliminary University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Survey for August, and June business inventories on Aug 14.

Meanwhile, the eurozone’s key data releases include the Sentix Investor Confidence Index for August on Aug 12, while June industrial production data and the final estimate of 2Q2026 GDP will be released on Aug 13. Preliminary second-quarter employment data and the June trade balance will be published on Aug 14.

On the local corporate front, Media Chinese International Ltd (KL:MEDIAC) will hold its annual general meeting on Thursday, while Seni Jaya Corp Bhd (KL:SJC) and Chin Hin Group Property Bhd (KL:CHGP) will hold their extraordinary general meetings on Friday.

In the courts, former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s US$5.64 billion civil suit involving 1Malaysia Development Bhd will continue, with former Damansara member of parliament Tony Pua on the witness stand from Aug 10 to 13.

On Aug 12, the Federal Court will also hear Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor and the Kedah government’s appeal against a court decision to set aside the state government’s order declaring gaming outlets illegal in the state.

Meanwhile, the Court of Appeal is scheduled to hear Supermax Corp Bhd (KL:SUPERMX)

founder Datuk Seri Stanley Thai’s appeal against a contempt of court conviction, along with his estranged spouse Datuk Cheryl Tan’s cross-appeal, on Aug 14 after he withdrew his bid to overturn a decision in an interlocutory (interim) matter in their ongoing matrimonial assets dispute.

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