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Sunday February 5, 10:45 AM Asia Stocks Week Ahead-Eyes on earnings, central banks=2 ** IN AUSTRALIA/NZ (for Sydney/Wellington report, see [.AX]) Australian shares are bracing for a heavy reporting rush and investors are seen treading cautiously in a market that has spiked to record peaks consistently over the past few weeks. "We are looking for solid earnings growth across the board," said Sean Fenton, a portfolio manager with Jenkin Investment Managers, which oversees about A$1 billion in Australian shares. "The focus will be on costs particularly around some of the resource projects, which are facing high energy and labour costs." Traders are also betting on strong capital management, such as a special dividend or share buybacks, as the resource companies generate huge cash from the commodities boom. Monday - Jan job ads (0030 GMT) Tuesday - Reserve Bank of Australia monthly board meeting - Q4 business survey (0030 GMT) - Virgin Blue Holdings Ltd. AGM - Results from GWA International and Primary Healthcare Wednesday - RBA meeting outcome (2230 GMT) - Feb consumer sentiment survey (2330 GMT) - Results from Boral Ltd. , ResMed Inc. , Stockland Group Ltd. Thursday - Jan labour force data (0030 GMT) - Results from Telstra Corp. Ltd. , Coca-Cola Amatil Ltd. Friday - Dec housing finance data (0030 GMT) -- ** IN TAIWAN (for Taiwan report, see [.TW]) Stocks will probably rise as heavyweight techs such as AU Optronics Corp. , the world's third-largest flat display panel maker, report fourth-quarter results and give guidance on their outlook of the first quarter. "Investors are expecting promising figures from these companies," said analyst Chiang Chen-sheng of Masterlink Investment Advisory. "The benchmark index could rise to 6,700 points from the close of 6,594.60 on Friday." However, gains may be offset by concerns that recent remarks by Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian could anger China, which insists on its sovereignty over Taiwan. Chen had said he was seriously considering scrapping a key policy body on Chinese reunification. Monday - Jan inflation data Tuesday - Dec trade data Wednesday - Advanced Semiconductor Engineering Q4 -- ** IN SOUTHEAST ASIA (for SE Asia report, see [.SO]) Quarterly earning reports will dominate trading sentiment in Singapore with focus on whether Singapore Telecommunications declares an interim dividend for its shareholders or retain funds to expand in the region, dealers said. Wednesday - Singapore's Datacraft Asia Q1 results - Singapore Telecommunications Q3 Thursday - Thailand Jan consumer confidence survey Friday - Singapore's Fraser & Neave Q1 -- ** IN SOUTH ASIA (for Mumbai report, see [.BO]) With uncertainty set to grow in the lead up to the annual federal budget due at the end of the month, some analysts expect investors to retreat to the sidelines. "The index will remain range-bound and the correction could deepen further as valuations look ripe," said Vinod Bansal, director at V.N. Capital Ltd. The annual federal budget for the year to March 2007 will be presented in end-February. Wednesday - Tata Motors Ltd. results -- TABLE OF INDEX PERFORMANCE: (Feb. 3 close) Latest % change week ytd* Nikkei 225 16,659.64 +1.21 +3.40 KOSPI 1,333.50 -3.69 -3.33 TAIEX 6,594.60 +0.96 +0.71 S&P/ASX 200 4,883.80 -0.72 +2.53 HANG SENG 15,429.73 -2.05 +3.72 STI 2,431.72 +0.81 +3.59 SENSEX 9,742.58 -1.30 +3.67 *year-to-date -- (Additional reporting by Denny Thomas in SYDNEY, David Dolan in TOKYO, Rita Chang in HONG KONG, Shailendra Bhatnagar in MUMBAI, Rafael Nam in SEOUL, Faith Hung in TAIWAN, Ovais Subhani in SINGAPORE)