Economic Data
(CN) CHINA JAN CONFERENCE BOARD LEADING ECONOMIC INDEX m/m: 1.0% V 0.4% PRIOR.
(AU) AUSTRALIA JAN RBA FOREIGN EXCHANGE TRANSACTIONS (A$): 393M V 752M PRIOR.
(KR) SOUTH KOREA JAN DISCOUNT STORE SALES Y/Y: -24.6% V -5.0% PRIOR; DEPARTMENT STORE SALES Y/Y: -8.2% V -0.2% PRIOR
(NZ) NEW ZEALAND JAN ANZ NZ JOB ADS M/M: -1.5% V +0.4% PRIOR.
(JP) Japan investors sold net ¥620.6B in Foreign Bonds last week vs sold net ¥645.0B prior week; foreign Investors bought net ¥197.9B in Japan stocks last week vs bought net ¥212.9B in prior week.
Markets Snapshot (as of 04:30 GMT)
Nikkei225 -1.3%
S&P/ASX -2.1%
Kospi -0.6%
Shanghai Composite -2.7%
Hang Seng -1.8%
Mar S&P500 -0.1% at 1,506
Apr gold -1.2% at $1,559/oz
Apr Crude Oil -0.9% at $94.36/brl
Notes/Observations
In a replay of last month, hawkish FOMC minutes spark a massive profit-taking across asset classes; Regional Asian indices in the red across the board after hitting multi-month highs earlier this week.
FOMC minutes indicated some members suggested there's a need to taper or vary pace of purchases, and pointed to increases in real personal consumption expenditures; Recovery in consumer spending that followed a strong building permits portending the end of the Bernanke put.
Shanghai Composite down 3% late in the day after more hints China State Council is looking to curb speculation in the property markets.
Gold at new lows in electronic trade as technical factors (death cross) and sentiment shift (liquidation in hedge fund community) pile on top of USD strength in the wake of hawkish FOMC.
GBP slices below $1.5150 as traders seize on the bearish momentum following a split in the BOE.
Speakers/Political/In the Papers
(CN) China State Council: In favor of differentiated credit, tax policies and expansion of property tax trials to more Chinese cities - Shanghai Daily.
(CN) S&P comments on China: Faces downside risk from overinvestment; potential drop could have a significant impact on China's GDP growth.
(CN) China top four banks' new yuan loans in Feb 1-17th were CNY250B v CNY180B for all of Feb 2012 - China press.
(KR) North Korea seen resuming activity at nuclear site - Kyodo News.
(DE) German Finance Ministry: Still expects 2013 GDP at 0.4% - financial press.
(US) Fed's Rosengren (moderate, FOMC voter in 2013) said aggressive FOMC policies are appropriate; Fisher and Stein are concerned about risks related to the growth in the credit markets - financial press.
Currencies
USD/JPY threatened the 94 handle as USD was broadly stronger after the release of FOMC minutes, as some members saw a need to taper or vary the pace of asset purchases. The USD/JPY could not sustain gains however, and the pair retraced back to 93.50 levels before remaining relatively quiet between 93.50-93.80(??) throughout most of the morning in Asian session.
Dollar strength was pervasive as AUD/USD and NZD/USD reached recent lows at $1.0233 and $0.8334. USD/CNY yuan mid point was also set a 6.2846, the highest setting since February 6.
USD/SGD remains below the 1.24 handle and has been relatively rangebound between 1.2380 and 1.2410.
Fixed Income/Commodities
(JP) Japan's MoF sells ¥1.10T 20-yr 1.8% JGBs; Avg yield: 1.751% v 1.750% prior; bid-to-cover: 2.56x v 3.10x prior.
GLD: SPDR Gold Trust ETF daily holdings fall by 20.8 tons to 1,299.2 tons (lowest since Sept 13th)
SLV: iShares Silver Trust ETF daily holdings rise to 10,539 tons from 10,521 tons prior (highest since 10,690 on Jan 23rd)
(US) API PETROLEUM INVENTORIES CRUDE: +2.96M V +2ME; GASOLINE: -122K V -1ME; DISTILLATE: -1.64M V -1.5ME; UTILIZATION: 83.7% V 85% W/W
ANZ head of commodity research: Iron ore prices may fall $5-10/ton over the next two months to "high $140s" - China Daily.
Equities
SNE: Announces PS4; to offer more realistic games, free-to-play games - financial press.
AWC.AU: Reports FY12 Net loss A$62.1M v profit A$126.6M y/y; no dividends for 2012; -2.6%
ILU.AU: Reports FY12 Net A$363M v A$383Me, Rev A$1.07B v A$1.54B y/y; -1.6%
QAN.AU: Reports H1 Pretax A$223M v A$215Me, Rev A$8.24B v A$8.3Be; profit guidance not provided; +2.5%
BXB.AU: Reports H1 Net A$302.5M v $323.6Me, Rev A$2.89B v A$2.78B y/y; +1.1%
LMT: Awarded USAF contracts for $6.9B and $285M
ARII: Reports Q4 $1.14 (record high) v $0.78e, R$207.7M v $185Me
CAKE: Reports Q4 $0.51 v $0.52e, R$465M v $467Me; -1.5% afterhours
FLR: Reports Q4 $1.58 (adj) v $0.86e, R$7.02B v $7.15Be; -1.3% afterhours
TSLA: Reports Q4 -$0.65 (adj) v -$0.53e, R$306M v $295Me; -6.1% afterhours