Little Fresh Catalyst Allows Markets To Soar On US Nonfarm Payrolls

(AU) AUSTRALIA AUG ANZ JOB ADVERTISEMENTS M/M: -0.8% V -1.1% PRIOR (4th consecutive decline)

(TW) TAIWAN JUL CPI Y/Y: 2.5% V 2.0%E (highest since Sept 2008); WPI Y/Y: -1.7% V -1.6%E

(AU) AUSTRALIA JULY TD SECURITIES INFLATION M/M: +0.2% V -0.2% PRIOR (3-month high); Y/Y: 1.5% V 1.6% PRIOR (multi-month low)

(JP) JAPAN JUN PRELIMINARY LEADING INDEX CI: 92.6 V 92.9E; COINCIDENT INDEX CI: 93.8 V 93.9E

(ID) INDONESIA Q2 GDP CONSTANT PRICE Q/Q: 2.8% V 2.5%E; Y/Y: 6.4% V 6.1%E

(UK) UK JUL LLOYDS EMPLOYMENT CONFIDENCE INDEX: -51 V -53 PRIOR

Markets Snapshot (as of 04:30GMT)
Nikkei225 +1.9%

S&P/ASX +1.2%

Kospi +2.1%

Shanghai Composite +0.4%

Hang Seng +2.1%

Taiwan Taiex +1.2%

Straits Times Index +1.0%

Sept S&P500 unchanged

Dec gold -0.1% at $1,608/oz

Sept Crude oil -0.3% at $91.18/brl

Overview/Top Headlines
Stronger US nonfarm payrolls on Friday and comments from an ECB official saying it could intervene and buy bonds even without unanimous approval gave Monday morning a jump start. EUR/USD tested above $1.2440. Royal Dutch Shell disclosed it has moved some of its assets out of European banks and the FT reported the major derivative traders have been confirming what would happen in the event that a country left the EU.

The USD/JPY eased a bit, staying in a 30 pips range with a top side of ¥78.65. Korean won tested a fresh 4-month high against the Greenback to KRW1,125.40, JPY/KRW fell to KRW14.35. Hong Kong Hang Seng neared a 3-month high, with only Shanghai finding limited gains after a weaker open. Corn and wheat eased off Friday highs, spot gold gained 0.4%.

Over the weekend in a statement on their website, China's PBoC said it would intensify monetary policy fine-tuning in the second half of this year and improve credit policy to bolster the real economy. PBOC it will widen the use of its currency in cross-border trade and investment. Has made stabilizing economic growth a more prominent priority and implemented prudent monetary policy this year.

Looking ahead to the week we will see News Corp, Rio Tinto and Leighton report in Australia, while Japan's earnings wind down, similar to the US schedule. Key economic data for the week will be Tuesday's RBA rate decision and Wednesday will see China CPI, PPI as well as an interest rate decision out of Japan. Thursday will round out the major China data with industrial production and retail sales for July.

Speakers/Geopolitical/In The Press
(NZ) RBNZ Gov Bollard: Sees NZ private debt aftermath for some time, debt build up helping keep growth rates low; high export prices have lifted the Kiwi (NZD)

(CN) China top leaders have gotten together in Beidaihe; Expected to finalize leadership change and how to wrap up the Bo political scandal - FT

(KR) Bank of Korea (BOK): Rising global crop prices may put upward pressure on South Korea inflation; Expects continued US drought to result in higher global grain prices - Korean press

(US) Janet Yellen is seen as the natural pick to replace Bernanke if Pres Obama is re-elected and the current Fed Chairman chooses not to remain at the Federal Reserve - US press

(CN) China Shanghai new home sales +22.9% w/w; New Home prices +5.4% w/w - Uwin

Equities
HVN.AU: Reports FY12 Pre-tax profit A$227.6M; Rev A$5.74B v A$6.2B y/y

IGR.AU: Silver Lake Resources offers to acquire Integra for A$0.452/shr (44% premium) and 1 new share for each 6.28 Integra shares

FMG.AU: CEO Power: Junior miners may be forced to postpone or abandon ventures due to a fall in capital markets and a steep drop in commodity prices - AFR

Lenovo Group, 992.HK: Exec: We can price very aggressively, looking to take a larger share of PC market in the US