The yen open the week broadly lower as Asian equities outside of Japan surged on news regarding China. At the time of writing, the MSCI Asian Pacific ex-Japan index is rising 0.4%, in particular, with HK HSI up over 2.2%. It's reported that China will be relaxing the restrictions on foreign investments in listened companies and raising the quotas for capital flow. Chinese president Xi Jinping said that the country is still in a "significant period of strategic opportunity" but the government must take "timely countermeasures to reduce potential negative effects". Technically, the USD/JPY is staying in tight range above 101.42 temporary low, and we'd expect strong resistance well below 103.01 and bring fall resumption. The EUR/JPY and GBP/JPY are staying below 140.80 and 172.29 minor resistance levels and maintains intraday downside bias.
On the data front, Australian NAB business confidence improved to 6 in April. Japan current account deficit widened to JPY -0.78T in March. Japan eco watchers survey dropped sharply to 41.6 in April. Swiss retail sales, US monthly budget statement will be released later today. Markets will also listen to Fed Plosser's speech.
Looking ahead, the economic calendar is jam paced with important economic data. BoE will release the quarterly inflation report, which is the main central bank activity. A key focus is GDP readings from Eurozone, Germany, France and Italy, which could solidify the case for ECB easing in June. Japan will also release GDP report which could trigger adjustment in expectation for BoJ easing. From US, a bunch of data will be released including inflation, housing and manufacturing. Here are some highlights:
- Tuesday: Australia house price and home loans; China industrial production, retail sales fixed asset investment; German ZEW; US retail sales, import prices
- Wednesday: RBNZ financial stability report, retail sales; UK job data, BOE inflation report; Swiss ZEW; US PPI
- Thursday: Japan GDP; Eurozone GDP, CPI; US CPI, jobless claims, Empire state manufacturing, Philly Fed manufacturing, TIC capital flow, industrial production, NAHB housing index
- Friday: US new residential construction, U of Michigan sentiment