Markets Watch BOJ Decision and China PMI

Investors in the Asia-Pacific region are keeping a close eye on a couple of big events today. First up is the Bank of Japan's (BOJ) rate decision. Experts think the BOJ will keep rates steady at 0. 25%, but everyone will be scrutinizing the statement for any hints about the next rate hike. Meanwhile, China is set to announce its official purchasing managers index (PMI) numbers for September. The manufacturing PMI is expected to show a slight improvement from last month, but it's still predicted to be below 50, indicating a contraction in the sector. This would mark the sixth straight month of decline for China's manufacturing industry. Over in Japan, BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda will be sharing the bank's latest thoughts during a news conference. But it's not just Japan and China that are on investors' minds. Samsung's earnings report is also due out today, and that's always a big deal in the tech world.