West Bengal elections begin

Elections in the Indian state of West Bengal kick off today, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP party seeking to wrest power from the Trinamool Congress.

One of the four states in India staging polls over the next six weeks, West Bengal has 294 seats up for grabs. The elections will be held over six phases, with the first phase taking place today and next Monday.

Parliament begins Budget debate

Parliament will sit for nine days starting today to debate the Government's Budget statement for the new financial year. Some 50 MPs will weigh in on the programmes and spending priorities that Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat announced on March 24. Mr Heng will respond to their comments and concerns on Wednesday, after which the plans and policies of various ministries will be debated.

Singapore manufacturing data

Investors will be looking to a new survey out late today for fresh indications on the state of Singapore's struggling manufacturing sector. The Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for March will reflect the level of confidence among factory executives in likely demand for their output. February's PMI reading was the lowest in three years and marked the eighth straight month of contraction in the sector.