Economic Data
(AU) AUSTRALIA JAN NAB BUSINESS CONDITIONS: -2 V -5 PRIOR; NAB BUSINESS CONFIDENCE: 3 V 2 PRIOR (5-month high)
(AU) AUSTRALIA DEC RBA CREDIT CARD BALANCES: A$49.9B V A$49.5B PRIOR; RBA CREDIT CARD PURCHASES: A$22.4B V A$21.8B PRIOR
(NZ) NEW ZEALAND JAN NZ CARD SPENDING RETAIL M/M: 0.3% V 0.3%E; TOTAL M/M: 0.4% V 0.3% PRIOR
(NZ) NEW ZEALAND JAN REINZ HOUSE PRICE INDEX: 3,488 V 3,522 PRIOR; M/M: -1.0 V -0.6% PRIOR; HOUSE SALES Y/Y: 21.1% V 8.2% PRIOR
(JP) JAPAN JAN MONEY STOCK M2 Y/Y: 2.7% V 2.6%E (10-month high); M3 Y/Y: 2.3% V 2.3%E
(JP) JAPAN JAN CONSUMER CONFIDENCE: 43.3 V 39.2 PRIOR (highest level since Jul 2010)
(PH) PHILIPPINES DEC TOTAL EXPORTS: 16.5% V 7.7%E; TOTAL MONTHLY EXPORTS: $3.9B V $3.6B PRIOR
(SL) SRI LANKA LEAVES REVERSE REPO RATE UNCHANGED AT 9.50% (EXPECTED); LEAVES REPURCHASE RATE UNCHANGED AT 7.50% (EXPECTED)
(UK) UK JAN RICS HOUSE PRICE BALANCE: -4% V +1%E
Markets Snapshot (as of 05:00 GMT)
Nikkei225 +2.5%
S&P/ASX +0.1%
Kospi -0.1%
Shanghai Composite closed
Hang Seng closed
Mar S&P500 -0.1% at 1,511
Apr gold -0.1% at $1,647/oz
Mar Crude Oil -0.1% at $96.90/brl
Notes/Observations
(US) Treasury's rep at G20 Lael Brainard is "supportive of Japan's attempts to end deflation and boost growth"; Will call G20 to commit to market exchange rates and avoid competitive devaluations
JPY falls sharply following Brainard comments, as USD/JPY hits new 33-month high above ¥94.40
Australia NAB business confidence hits 5-month high; AUD trades slightly higher on the data above $1.0270
North Korea conducts its third nuclear test despite the warning not to proceed out of China; KRW briefly weaker; SP500 falls slightly, down 2 handles; South Korea, Japan defense ministries holding meetings; South Korea Fin Min sees limited impact.
Japan Consumer Confidence up sharply; Govt raises assessment on consumer confidence
Sri Lanka central bank leaves rates unchanged; Signals will keep policy on hold for the next few months.
Currencies
Violent moves in USD/JPY today, as pair hovered close to 93.20-93.40 levels most of U.S. session before making a strong upward move through 93.50 and on the back of comments by Tres Official Brainard, exploded through the 94.00 handle before reaching session highs around 94.40. The pair retraced back below 94.20 at the start of the Asian session, but after a confirmed nuclear test by North Korea, broad USD strength brought the pair back above 94.30; current resistance seen at 94.50.
USD/KRW: Has remained relatively rangebound throughout the session between 1093-1098, was trading 1094.50 when first reports of the North Korea nuclear test were announced, but news had suprisingly little effect on the pair, resistance at 1200 level.
AUD/NZD was fairly stable throughout the Asian session as AUD/USD and NZD/USD both fell on broad USD strength follwing the North Korea nuclear test. NAB Business conditions had little effect on the Aussie dollar despite the data being slightly better than prior.
USD/SGD is at 5 month highs with the pair hovering at 1.2435 levels most of the Asian session, saw a brief spike up to 1.2448-50 levels on the back of USDJPY moves between US close and Asian open.
Onshore USD/PHP is closed for the Lunar New Year Holiday, but exports solidly beat expectations.
Fixed Income/Commodities
Goldman Sachs lowers price estimates for grains after update from the USDA last week - US financial press
(AU) Australia Bureau of Agricultural and Resource (ABARES): Raises FY12/13 wheat production target to 22.1MT, +0.5% from Dec forecast
Speakers/Political/In the Papers
(JP) Japan PM Abe: Reiterates view that it is possible to reach 2% inflation target with monetary policy - addressing parliament
(JP) Japan Fin Min Aso: Will tell G20 that Japan will maintain efforts to beat deflation - financial press
(KR) According to one survey, 17 out of 21 analysts see Bank of Korea (BOK) keeping rates unchanged at its Feb 14th policy decision
(KR) Goldman Sachs forecasts Bank of Korea (BoK) to cut rates 25bps in April - financial press
(KR) South Korea Ministry of Employment and Labor: Average rate of corporate wage increases slowed to 4.7% in 2012 from 5.1% in 2011 - Korean press
(KR) South Korea steelmakers and marine transport companies expected to raise prices after the Lunar New Year holidays - Korean press
(KR) South Korea trade with EU in 2012 fell into deficit for the first time in 15 years despite the free trade agreement (FTA) - Korean press
Equities
Obayashi 1802.JP: Reports H1 Net ¥5.7B v ¥11.5B y/y, Op Profit ¥12.0B v ¥6.3B y/y, Rev ¥653.4B v ¥544.9B y/y; Affirms FY12/13
Oji Paper 3861.JP: Reports 9-month Net ¥19.5B v ¥19.1B y/y, Op Profit ¥40.2B v ¥48.6B y/y, Rev ¥925.8B v ¥920.7B y/y; Affirms FY12/13
NWH.AU: Awarded 4-yr services contract from Fortescue valued at approx A$140M - financial press; +5.8%
WHC.AU: Conditional Approval granted for Maules Creek and Boggabri coal mines in NSW state; +8.6%
QAN.AU: Will strengthen alliance ties with Emirates, align awards programs to target business travelers - Australian press
Telstra TLS.AU: Close to securing $1B Defence contract; looks to finalize by end of month - Australian press
FB: Bernstein downgrades to Market Perform from Outperform rating (timing uncertain); -2.6% afterhours
TWTC: Reports Q4 $0.11 v $0.15e, R$377.9M v $377Me; -2.7% afterhours
MAS: Reports Q4 +$0.04 v -$0.01e, R$1.89B v $1.82Be; Disposes of Danish ready-to-assemble cabinet business; +8.8% afterhours
GTE: Announces oil discovery in Peru; +8.8% afterhours