Economic Data
(AU) AUSTRALIA MARCH EMPLOYMENT CHANGE: -36.1K V -7.5KE; UNEMPLOYMENT RATE: 5.6% V 5.4%E; PARTICIPATION RATE: 65.1% V 65.2%E
(KR) BANK OF KOREA (BOK) LEAVES 7-DAY REPO RATE UNCHANGED AT 2.75%, UNEXPECTED (6TH STRAIGHT PAUSE)
(CN) CHINA MARCH MONEY SUPPLY M2 Y/Y: 15.7% V 14.6%E; MONEY SUPPLY M1: Y/Y: 11.9% V 9.4%E
(CN) CHINA MARCH NEW YUAN LOANS (CNY): 1.06T V 900.0BE
(CN) CHINA MARCH AGGREGATE FINANCING (CNY): 2.54T V 1.8TE; YTD: 6.16T
(CN) CHINA MARCH FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES: $3.44T V $3.36TE
(AU) AUSTRALIA APRIL CONSUMER INFLATION EXPECTATION: 2.2% V 2.3% PRIOR
(NZ) NEW ZEALAND MARCH BUSINESS NZ PMI: 53.4 V 56.0 PRIOR
(US) MARCH MONTHLY BUDGET STATEMENT: -$106.53B V -$107.0BE
(JP) JAPAN FEBRUARY MACHINE ORDERS M/M: 7.5% V 6.9%E; Y/Y: -11.3% V -7.6%E
(JP) JAPAN MARCH DOMESTIC CGPI M/M: 0.1% V 0.2%E (fourth straight increase); Y/Y: -0.5% V -0.4%E (12th straight decline)
(JP) JAPAN MARCH MONEY STOCK M2 Y/Y: 3.0% V 2.9%E; M3 Y/Y: 2.5% V 2.4%E
(JP) JAPAN MARCH TOKYO AVERAGE OFFICE VACANCIES M/M: 8.6% V 8.6% PRIOR
(NZ) NEW ZEALAND REINZ MARCH HOUSE PRICE INDEX: 3,631 V 3,554 PRIOR; HOUSE SALES Y/Y: 10.9% V 8.1% PRIOR
(JP) Japan investors sold net ¥1.14T in Foreign Bonds last week vs sold net ¥117.4B prior week; Foreign Investors bought net ¥868.6B in Japan stocks last week vs bought net ¥228.1B in prior week.
(MA) MALAYSIA FEBRUARY INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION Y/Y: -4.5% V -2.5%E; MANUFACTURING SALES VALUE Y/Y: % V 7.4% PRIOR
(NZ) New Zealand March ANZ Truckometer Heavy Traffic: -2.7% v +0.3% prior
IDC: Q1 global PC shipments down 13.9% v -7.7%e; steepest drop ever since data series began in 1994, and 4th consecutive quarter of y/y shipment declines
Markets Snapshot (as of 03:30 GMT)
Nikkei225 +0.8%
S&P/ASX +0.8%
Kospi +0.1%
Shanghai Composite +0.1%
Hang Seng +0.8%
June S&P500 +1.2%
Jun gold +0.1% at $1,560/oz
May Crude Oil -0.3% at $94.36/brl
Observations/Insights/Currencies
Asian bourses were mostly higher as the Nikke225 rose in the early session, briefly hitting its best level since August 2008, tracking gains from Wall Street with the Dow Jones and S&P500 ending the session at record levels. The Shanghai continued to advance following the release of positive Chinese economic data. China new Yuan loans for the month of March totaled CNY1.06T, considerably higher than the CNY620B reported the previous month. In addition, the Chinese government announced that it will allow local authorities to take a larger portion of the value-added tax (VAT), in a move seen to facilitate business activity, and as a positive step towards new reform measures.
The Australia S&P/ASX pared back some of its gains following the release of weaker than expected employment data. The Australian jobless rate climbed last month to 5.6%, the highest level in over three years. Employment change was -36.1K vs. -7.5k expected, sending the AUD lower from c$1.0550 to $1.0500.
The Bank of Korea (BOK) unexpectedly maintained the 7-day Repo Rate at 2.75% (for 6th straight month), despite political pressure to lower rates, amid the situation in North Korea and weaker yen. Bond yields hinted at a rate cut, and declined to record lows following a cut in the 2013 GDP forecast by the Finance Ministry.
Fixed Income/Commodities
(NZ) New Zealand registered to sell up to ¥100B in uridashi bonds.
(VN) Vietnam Central Bank sold 39.2k taels of gold bullion.
(JP) Japan MoF sells ¥551.3B v ¥600B indicated in 1.8% 30-yr JGBs; Avg yield: 1.492% v 1.820% prior, bid-to-cover: 3.64x v 3.33x prior
Speakers/Political/In the Papers
(JP) Fitch: Japan's QE Should Temporarily Boost Banks Profits.
(JP) Japan, U.S. to announce preliminary agreement on TPP-free trade discussions tomorrow - financial press.
(JP) BoJ Governor Kuroda: Easing impact has staying power; reiterates 2% target will be achieved - Nikkei News interview.
(JP) Bank of Japan (BOJ) to conduct bond buying operation tomorrow - financial press.
(CN) China city of Guangzhou may increase down payment requirement for second homes - financial press.
(CN) China rate swaps rise after Mar loans exceeds expectation - Chinese press.
(CN) China 7-day repo rate fell 6bps to 3.15% (lowest level since March 27th)
(CN) China will allow local govt take bigger value-added tax (VAT) share - Chinese press.
(CN) China small businesses expressed low optimism for the economy - Chinese press.
(AU) RBA's Stevens: Size of Asia financial system has grown substantially - financial press.
(AU) Australia PM Gillard: Reached new level in Chinese relations - financial press.
(NZ) New Zealand Fin Min English: Fiscal target is net debt 20% of GDP by 2020.
(NZ) RBNZ: Deposit insurance can lead to riskier bank behavior; see very low risk of any bank failure in NZ - financial press.
(NZ) Auckland 2012 GDP at +2.8%, ahead of 10-yr avg - New Zealand Herald.
(KR) Japan Defense Ministry: North Korea said to be positioning launch pad in possible preparation plans - Japanese press.
(SG) Singapore to list CNY equities this year - financial press.
(MX) Mexico Central Bank Gov Carsten: Expects GDP at 3.5% this year.
(MX) Mexico debt chief: Decline in Mexico bonds yields due to BOJ stimulus, weak US data - financial press.
(UK) BoE's Haldane: Financial regulations are too complex, expensive and inefficient.
(US) Fed's Fisher: Inflation not on the horizon for foreseeable future; concerned Fed is financing the US debt - financial press.
Equities
GM: To invest €4B in Opel unit - financial press.
VALE: Expects bank tax bill for the company to drop significantly due to today's Supreme Court ruling on Brazil corporate taxes; today's decision was a victory.
LIFE: Thermo Fischer Scientific said to have outbid consortium group with bid in high end of $65-70/shr range - financial press.
IP: Third Point (Loeb) increased stakes in IP and LBTYA - CNBC citing Q1 letter to investors; +0.9% afterhours.
CVX: Issues Interim Update for First Quarter 2013; -0.3% afterhours.
YUM: Reports March China SSS -13%; seeing impact from bird flu scare in the last week; -2.3% afterhours.
IART: Guides Q1 $0.30-0.40 v $0.68e, R$194-197M v $206Me; Issued Voluntary Recall of Certain Products Manufactured in its Anasco, Puerto Rico Facility; -7.0% afterhours.
FTNT: Reports prelim Q1 $0.10 v $0.12e, Rev $134-136M v $140Me (previously guided $0.11-0.12, R$138-141M on 1/30); -14% afterhours.
BBBY: Reports Q4 $1.68 v $1.68e, R$3.40B v $3.40Be; +1.8% afterhours.
ZUMZ: Reports March SSS +2.1% v -8.2%e; +9.6% afterhours.
WOW.AU: Reports Q3 Rev A$14.4B v A$14Be
Hyundai Heavy 009540.KR: Awarded KRW2.16T order - financial press.
Sharp 6753.JP: May report H2 Op profit ¥20B v ¥13.8B prior guidance - Nikkei News.