Greece Still Struggles For A Unity GovernmentEconomic Data
(AU) AUSTRALIA MAR HOME LOANS M/M: 0.3% V -2.0%E; INVESTMENT LENDING: -1.0% V 4.3% PRIOR; OWNER-OCCUPIED HOME LOAN VALUE: -0.3% V -4.1% PRIOR
(JP) JAPAN APR DOMESTIC CGPI M/M: +0.3% V 0.1%E; Y/Y: -0.2% V -0.3%E
(NZ) NEW ZEALAND Q1 RETAIL SALES EX INFLATION Q/Q: -1.5% V -0.5%E
(NZ) NEW ZEALAND APR PERFORMANCE SERVICES INDEX: 56.7 V 54.2 PRIOR
(JP) Japan Mar Loans & Discounts Corp y/y: -0.4% v 0.2% prior
Markets Snapshot (as of 04:30GMT)
Nikkei225 +0.3%
S&P/ASX +0.1%
Kospi -0.3%
Taiwan Taiex -0.2%
Singapore Straits Times Index +0.4%
Shanghai Composite +0.2%
Hang Seng +0.3%
Jun S&P Futures -0.2% at 1,347
June gold -0.2% at $1,581/oz
June Crude -0.5% at $95.65
Overview/Top Headlines
After weaker April economic data reported late last week the PBoC cut the key reserve ratio requirement (RRR) by 50bps to 20.0% (the third cut in 6 months) for China's big banks; this gave the markets a slightly positive start before becoming mixed. The move from the PBoC frees up an additional CNY400B in the banking system. However, China's major banks declined, clearly looking for a larger cut.
Greece was still unable to reach an agreement for a unity government over the weekend; leaders of most of the parties will meet again for a fresh round of talks Monday evening. Chatter is increasing that Greece will leave the EU within the year, officials commenting that the EU would be able to survive if it were to occur. Troika officials are said to be open to renegotiating some terms of the bailout if Greece is able to put a pro-EU government in place.
AUD/USD after hovering around parity for some time broke through to test $0.9996, a 5-month low. German Chancellor Merkel's party lost elections in North Rhine-Westphalia, after a string of disappointing elections there is increasing doubt that her party, CDU, will be able to stay in power after next year's general election. EUR/USD traded quietly in the session down around 30 pips, copper and silver were both weaker falling 0.8% and 0.4% respectively. USD/JPY gained slightly in the session a high around ¥80.00. Spot gold tested $1,586. Crude oil fell after the Saudi Oil Minister said that $100/brl ($111.80 currently) Brent was a good price and that they would do all they could to help return prices to the that level.
Speakers/Geopolitical/In The Press
(SG) Singapore Trade Min Lim: Central Bank will do what it needs to keep inflation in check, expects inflation to remain around 5% for the next few months.
(TH) Thailand Central Bank: Inflation is a greater risk than growth; Q1 contraction in exports was less than expected.
(AU) RBA's Deputy Gov Lowe: Economy adjusting to once in a century mining boom, high terms of trade and AUD; Economy facing structural challenges.
(CN) China Fin Min Xi: Both new and secondary home sales are likely to be included in the expansion of property tax. - Chinese press
Equities
CWK.AU: Board: Urges shareholders to reject Whitehaven proposal; bid as "inadequate, unsolicited and opportunistic.
BHP: Exec Yeager: Will scale back rig count until gas prices rise again; Economics of business are not dependent on gas prices.
United Rusal, 486.HK: Reports Q1Net $74M v $451M y/y; Rev $2.88B v $2.99B y/y.
WPL.AU: CEO: Have decided to add a 4th LNG tanker to its Pluto fleet on a time charter up to 20-yrs; Seeing a lot of interest for Shell's stake in the company.
QAN.AU: Aircraft maintenance engineers' union expects 1,250 engineers will be laid off this week as part of restructuring announcement expected this week. - SMH