Economic Data
(CN) CHINA MAY HSBC FLASH MANUFACTURING PMI: 48.7 V 49.3 PRIOR FINAL (7th consecutive contraction)
(NZ) NEW ZEALAND APR TRADE BALANCE (NZ$): 355M V 400ME (11-month high); TRADE BALANCE YTD: -541M V -651ME
(NZ) NEW ZEALAND ANNUAL BUDGET RELEASE: AFFIRMS TARGET OF RETURNING BUDGET TO SURPLUS IN 2015
(AU) AUSTRALIA Q1 CBAHIA HOUSE AFFORDABILITY: 61.8 V 58.5 PRIOR
(JP) JAPAN BOJ MONTHLY ECONOMIC REPORT: Increasingly Evident Japan Economy Is Shifting To Pickup
(KR) SOUTH KOREA Q1 HOUSEHOLD CREDIT Y/Y: +7.0% V 7.8% PRIOR (lowest level since Sept 2009)
(VN) Vietnam May CPI m/m: 0.2% v 0.1% prior; y/y: 8.3% v 8.9%e
(JP) Japan investors bought ¥244B in foreign bonds last week v ¥1.26T bought in prior week
(AR) Argentina Apr Primary surplus ARS1.06B v ARS1.97B y/y
Markets Snapshot (as of 05:00GMT)
Nikkei225 0.5%
S&P/ASX -0.3%
Kospi -0.3%
Singapore Straits Times Index +0.1%
Shanghai Composite -0.3%
Hang Seng -0.6%
June S&P Futures -0.3% at 1,311
June gold +0.7% $1,559/oz
July Crude +0.5% at $90.38
Overview/Top Headlines
Late US session strength came amid rumors that Germany would announce support for a bank deposit guarantee scheme to be announced after the EU summit. However, as the various leaders trickled out of the meeting, little new was said with continued conflicting opinions on euro zone bonds. France President Hollande said there are insufficient investment incentives in the EU, proposed Euro zone bonds. He did admit that not all countries shared his view on growth instruments, but there were several that had similar views.
He also reiterated support for a transaction tax. Leaders affirmed their support for Greece staying in the EU, but urged the troubled country to stick with its mandates. EU's Juncker does not expect euro zone bonds any time soon; Preparations must be made for all scenarios. Van Rompuy said leaders agreed to strengthen economic union to match monetary union, more details to come in June. Also that no decision on where new capital would come from for EIB. EUR/USD fell below $1.2560 on the news with only a slight recovery heading into the start of the European session. EUR/JPY fell to ¥99.70.
China May HSBC flash PMI showed a 7th consecutive contraction to 48.7, new export orders also declined below 50 to 47.8. This will only strengthen calls for easing measures from China's leaders to sustain growth and reach 7.5% 2012 GDP target. Equities in China, Australia and Hong Kong slid a bit weaker on the news but softness was limited. A China NDRC researcher called on the PBoC to cut rates if CPI falls below 3% (April CPI was 3.4%). US credit rating agencies came out with cautious comments on China property markets, with a general consensus that any further tightening measures on the sector will be limited this year.
New Zealand released its budget affirming a return to surplus in 2015 (press had speculated that it may return to surplus sooner). New Zealand warned that a Greek exit from the EU could hamper its ability to reach the goal.
Commodities were stronger in the session with silver +0.9% to $27.75, copper +0.7% to $3.42, corn and wheat contracts were both stronger in the session. The US dollar was weaker against the Won, Philippine Peso and S$.
Speakers/Geopolitical/In the press
(CN) Shadow banks in Wenzhou, China charging as much as 21.6% on loans in April (down from 25.4% in Mar) vs 7.6% official commercial bank loan target - SCMP
(EU) EU's Van Rompuy: Ongoing work on growth is being over shadowed by efforts to ensure stability; Euro zone bonds were discussed in longer term context
Asia Development Bank (ADB) Chief Economist Zhuang: Optimistic about Asia growth prospects - Speaking in Japan
(CN) NDRC researcher: PBoC should cut rates if CPI falls below 3% - Chinese press
(EU) Dutch PM Rutte: No talks on Greece exit plans; Saw support for some growth measures but no euro zone bond consensus
(EU) ECB Pres Draghi: Sees commitment to take EMU to new stage; ESM should be a functioning firewall
Equities
Baoshan Iron & Steel, 600019.CN: Sees China steel demand may increase 3-5% to 10M tons, slowest rate since 2001
Hyundai Motor, 005380.KR: CEO Kim: On track to reach 2012 sales target of 4.29M vehicles
VAH.AU: CEO Borghetti: Qantas' reduction in flights will not change our plans to expand - Australian Financial Review
US Equities
HPQ: Reports Q2 $0.98 v $0.91e, R$30.7B v $29.9Be; details previously reported restructuring announcements from 5/17; +9.1% after hours
NTAP: Reports Q4 $0.66 v $0.63e, R$1.70B v $1.7Be; -16.6% after hours
CLDX: CDX-011 Demonstrates High Response Rates in Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer Expressing Elevated Levels of GPNMB and in Triple Negative Disease; -6.3% after hours
P: Reports Q1 -$0.09 v -$0.18e, R$80.8M v $74Me; +15.7% after hours
KCG: Estimates loss from Facebook around $30-35M, expected to impact Q2 results - filing; -1.3% after hours