Key facts
- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver his annual Independence Day speech on August 15.
- Vietnamese President To Lam will visit Australia and New Zealand from Sunday to Friday.
- To Lam is expected to meet Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to discuss economic and strategic ties.
- Bilateral trade between Vietnam and Australia reached $8.1 billion in the first half of 2026.
- India's consumer inflation data for July will be released on Wednesday.
- Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. (SMIC) will announce its quarterly earnings on Friday.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to deliver his annual Independence Day address from the Red Fort in Delhi on August 15, 2025, likely addressing concerns about job opportunities and inequality following recent youth protests. This follows his over 100-minute speech last year which focused on protecting farmers amid trade tensions.
Vietnamese President To Lam is undertaking a diplomatic tour of Australia and New Zealand from Sunday to Friday. He is expected to meet Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday to discuss deepening economic and strategic ties, building on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in 2024. Cooperation in science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, and resilient supply chains are prioritized, alongside energy, infrastructure, food security, trade, investment, and education. Bilateral trade between Vietnam and Australia reached $8.1 billion in the first half of 2026, an increase of nearly 22% year-on-year.
Key economic events this week include the Bank of Japan releasing its policy meeting opinions on Monday, where markets will seek clues on future rate hikes following a split vote in the previous meeting. On Wednesday, India will release its July consumer inflation data, which breached the central bank's target in June due to rising energy costs but remains within the tolerance band. The Reserve Bank of India predicts inflation to be 5% for the fiscal year through March 2027.
Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. (SMIC), China's leading contract chipmaker, will announce its quarterly earnings on Friday, with attention on comments regarding AI demand and expansion plans. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will also deliver his State of the Nation Address on Friday, outlining policy priorities and macroeconomic assumptions for the proposed 2027 state budget.