Notes/Observations
(UK) GBP/USD hits fresh session high above $1.5165 on better than expected PMI, continued on to $1.5199, reduces likelihood of triple dip recession; EUR/GBP hits 1-week low.
(GR) Greece has a solid bill auction selling €1.138B v €875M indicated, yield slightly lower.
(IT) Italy yields drop over 10bps, FTSE MIB outperforms.
(EU) Eurostoxx 50 hits highest level since Aug 2008.
(ES) Spain 10-yr yields continue to hover near 5%
(EU) European corporate bond issuance picks up ahead of Thursday's central bank meetings.
(CN) Shanghai equities rise over 2.3%, as property firms see slight rebound.
CN) China short-term money market rates decline over 100bps, as PBoC did not drain liquidity on today's session
(CN) More Chinese officials express concern about inflation. Premier Wen noted that inflationary pressures are "large"
(CN) China sets 2013 GDP growth target at 7.5% (unchanged from 2012)
(AU) Commodity currencies supported by better than expected Australia retail sales and positive outlook from the RBA after leaving rates on hold; AUD/USD tests above 1.2530
(SE) Swedish Krona hits 6-month high against the Euro on better than expected services PMI.
Indices
Indices: FTSE 100 +0.70% at 6,390, DAX +1.6% at 7,813, CAC-40 +1.3% at 3,759, IBEX-35 +1.1% at 8,334, FTSE MIB +1.8% at 15,813, SMI +1.1% at 7,670, S&P 500 Futures +0.20% at 1,529
European equity markets are broadly higher, tracking the gains in US and Chinese equities. Italy's FTSE MIB has outperformed, amid the drop in government bond yields. European banks are broadly firmer, led by Intesa, SocGen and UniCredit. Resources-related firms have tracked the rebound in commodity prices.
UK Movers [Standard Chartered +3% (raised FY dividend)] Germany movers [Deutsche Post +3.5% (Q4 results above ests), RWE +3.5% (FY results above ests), Deutsche Bank +2.5% (broker commentary),ThyssenKrupp +2.5% (broker commentary), Norma Group +2.5% (expected to be added to MDAX), BMW +2% (Jan-Feb sales), Hochtief +1.5% (broker commentary), Morphosys +1% (narrowed Q4 loss)]
Currencies
EUR/USD: Currency markets saw a rather benign session early on. The pair rallied from 1.3025 to 1.3055 after the European peripheral bond markets opened higher, signaling the all clear for risk-on. Service PMI data had little effect on currencies until the German PMI, which came in slightly better than expected. This pushed the EUR from 1.3045 to 1.3060. Stronger eurozone PMI Services pushed the pair to a session high of 1.3075 before retracing back to 1.3060. The pair continued to leak back towards the 1.3015 level headed into mid-day
GBP/USD: The pair traded from 1.5130 to 1.5190 after better than expected UK Services PMI
USD/JPY: Was little changed during the early Europe session trading within 15 pips of 93.00
Fixed Income
(GR) GREECE DEBT AGENCY (PDMA) SELLS €1.138B V €875M INDICATED IN 26-WEEK BILLS; AVG YIELD 4.25% V 4.27% PRIOR; BID-TO-COVER: 1.64X V 1.68X PRIOR.
(AT) AUSTRIA DEBT AGENCY (AFFA) SELLS COMBINED €1.65B V €1.65B INIDICATED IN 2022 AND 2044 RAGB BONDS.
Sells €880M in 3.40% Nov 2022 RAGB; Avg Yield 1.726% v 1.934% prior; Bid-to-cover: 1.87x v 2.48x prior.
Sells €770M in 3.15% Jun 2044 RAGB Bonds; Avg Yield 2.88% v 2.889% prior; Bid-to-cover: 1.7x v 2.0x prior.
(EU) ECB ALLOTS €129.8B VS. €130BE IN 7-DAY MAIN REFINANCING TENDER AT FIXED 0.75%
(UK) DMO SELLS £4.0B V £4.0B INDICATED IN 1.25% 2018 GILTS; AVG YIELD 1.041% V 1.277% PRIOR; BID-TO-COVER: 2.17X V 1.83X PRIOR; TAIL: 0.4BPS V 0.2BPS PRIOR
Major Economic Data
(ES) SPAIN FEB SERVICES PMI: 44.7 V 45.8 PRIOR (1st monthly drop since September)
(IT) ITALY FEB PMI SERVICES: 43.6 V 43.5E
(FR) FRANCE FEB FINAL PMI SERVICES: 43.7 V 42.7E
(DE) GERMANY FEB FINAL PMI SERVICES: 54.7 V 54.1E
(EU) EURO ZONE FEB FINAL PMI SERVICES: 47.9 V 47.3E; PMI COMPOSITE: 47.9 V 47.3E
(UK) FEB PMI SERVICES: 51.8 V 51.0E (highest reading since Sept 2012)
(EU) EURO ZONE JAN RETAIL SALES M/M: 1.2% V +0.3%E; Y/Y: -1.3% V -2.9%E