Economic Data
(NZ) NEW ZEALAND JAN TRADE BALANCE (NZ$): -199M V +167ME (5th deficit in the past 6 months)
(AU) AUSTRALIA PM GILLARD WINS LABOR PARTY LEADERSHIP VOTE (AS EXPECTED) BY 71 TO 31 VOTE MARGIN
(KR) SOUTH KOREA MAR BUSINESS SURVEY MANUFACTURING: 84 V 81 PRIOR; NON-MANUFACTURING: 80 V 79 PRIOR
(HU) HUNGARY FEB ECONOMIC SENTIMENT: -22.5 V -26.8 PRIOR; BUSINESS CONFIDENCE: -12.4 V -16.3 PRIOR; CONSUMER CONFIDENCE: -51.2 V -56.6 PRIOR
(UK) UK FEB HOMETRACK HOUSING SURVEY M/M: 0.0% V 0.0% PRIOR; Y/Y: -1.4% V -1.6% PRIOR (15-month high)
(AU) Australia Q4 CBAHIA House Affordability: 58.5 v 57.2 prior
(TH) THAILAND JAN INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION Y/Y: -15.5% V -16.0%E
Markets Snapshot (as of 05:30GMT)
Nikkei225 +0.1%
S&P/ASX -0.9%
Kospi -1.5%
Taiwan Taiex closed
Singapore Straits Times -0.3%
Shanghai Composite +0.9%
Hang Seng +0.3%
S&P Futures -0.1% at 1,361
April gold unchanged at $1,776/oz
April Crude -0.3% at $109.40
Overview/Top Headlines
Markets were mixed for the session, starting mostly to the downside before late in the session, China and Hong Kong climbed steadily into positive territory.
Singapore flirted in and out of the red, while the Kospi lost nearly 1.5% on rising energy costs. South Korea Finance Minister Bahk said that the higher oil prices could push inflation out of the target zone and have far reaching impact on Korea, the world's 5th largest oil importer. The KRW lost 0.4% to the USD testing KRW1,130. IMF's Chief Lagarde commenting after the G20 noted that the global economy is not out of the danger zone, though comments out of the G20 were generally positive on progress on Europe and the gradually improving economic outlook. There was a clear agreement for a stronger firewall in Europe that should be addressed ahead of increasing IMF resources. China committed to do its part to help support the IMF with additional resources, only if Europe increases the firewall. Japan said it was undecided while the US said it would not contribute. Shares of Hyundai Motor fell over 3% and indicated they had hired banks for a benchmark dollar bond offering. While the yen was little changed in the session, Japan export names all gained with the anticipation of the weaker yen easing costs. US 30-year yields fell to over a 1 week low (reminder the US Fed is scheduled to repurchase up to $5.0B in notes due from Feb 2018-2020 later today).
Speakers/Geopolitical/In the press
(FR) France Fin Min Baroin: France is in favor of merging the firepower of EU's EFSF and ESM rescue funds; talks on increasing IMF resources and EU firewall must continue in parallel
(IR) Follow Up: Renewed talk that SWIFT may cut off money transfers to Iran - financial press
(CN) China Govt increases energy saving goals for key industries to 21% by 2015 from 17.3% goal prior
(CN) Shanghai new home sales +68% w/w; New home prices -5.7% w/w - Uwin
(KR) South Korea Opposition Leader: We should not intervene in the forex markets unless speculative moves are disruptive; Exports for economic growth is important but problematic
(CN) World Bank Chief Zoellick: Has a new strategy for China development; China needs to rely more on markets and the private sector
(CN) Some of the Chinese cities said to be lowering housing down payment requirements - Chinese press
(HK) According to Centaline there were 76 sales in the 10 major housing estates over the weekend, up from 70 a week ago - HK press
Equities
BBG.AU: Rejects TPG's A$3/shr offer; Discussions are ongoing
CTX.AU: Reports FY11 Net profit A$294M (ex-items) v profit A$318M y/y; Rev A$22.1B v A$18.7B y/y
NSANY: To cut production at its domestic Tochigi plant by as much as 50% next month - Nikkei News
EGP.AU: Crown expected to acquire 19.9% stake in Echo for A$600M - The Australian
RIO: Rio Tinto and Vale have started talks about sharing port and rail infrastructure for their separate iron ore projects in Guinea - Australian Financial Review