Asia-Pacific markets set to climb as investors look toward slate of China economic data

Group 1 - Asia-Pacific markets opened higher as investors awaited economic data from China [1] - Analysts forecast China's GDP growth to slow to 4.8% in Q3 from 5.2% in Q2 [1] - Japan's Nikkei 225 rose by 1.6% and the Topix increased by 1.43% at the open [1] Group 2 - South Korea's Kospi gained 0.36% after reaching a record high for three consecutive days [2] - The small-cap Kosdaq climbed 1.13% [2] - Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index futures were higher at 25,863 compared to the previous close of 25,247.1 [2] - Australia's S&P/ASX 200 started the day 0.1% lower [2]