Asia markets mixed ahead of US jobs data; China new home prices continue to rise
***Observations/Insights*** - Asian markets eased following recent gains as investors avoided big moves ahead of the highly anticipated US nonfarm payrolls data. The data could hint at the Fed's next move with the expectations that the central bank will likely maintain QE due to the negative effects of the government shutdown. - Australia S&P/ASX 200 continued to hold on to recent gains, hitting a 5-year high for a third consecutive day, aided by strong Q1 results from BHP Billiton, which posted solid Q1 results and raised FY14 iron ore production guidance. - China new home prices continued to soar with average house prices in 70 major cities up 9.1% year-on-year, making it the 9th consecutive month of increases. China property weakened as rising house prices is usually an indication that the government could step to cool the property market.
***Economic Data*** - (CN) CHINA SEPT NEW HOME PRICES M/M: RISES IN 65 OF 70 CITIES VS 66 PRIOR; Y/Y: PRICES RISE IN 69 OF 70 CITIES VS 69 PRIOR - (CN) CHINA SEPT CONFERENCE BOARD LEADING ECONOMIC INDEX M/M: 0.9% V 0.7% PRIOR (6th consecutive increase) - (TW) TAIWAN SEPT UNEMPLOYMENT RATE: 4.2% V 4.2%E - (US) NORTH AMERICA SEPT SEMI BOOK/BILL RATIO: 0.97 V 0.98 PRIOR (2nd consecutive month below parity, 3rd straight decline)
***Fixed Income/Commodities/Currencies*** - (CN) China PBoC won't conduct open market operations (OMO) in today's session - JGB: (JP) Japan's MoF sells ¥1.09T 20-year 1.7% JGBs; Avg yield: 1.4740% v 1.660% prior; bid-to-cover: 4.34x (highest since Sept 2012) v 3.21x prior
***Speakers/Political/In the Papers*** - (JP) BOJ to maintain 2% inflation target - Japanese press - (JP) BOJ: Japan firms' demand for loan has risen in Oct - financial press - (JP) Six Japan utilities to lower rates due to LNG prices decline - press - (JP) Japan, US begin 3rd round of TPP discussions on autos, trade barriers - Kyodo News
- (CN) China Tianjin Binhai New Area likely to get approval to set up free trade zone - press - (CN) China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) official Luo: New BASEL rules too complex - (CN) China to discuss fiscal relationship between central and local govt at third plenary session in Nov - press - (CN) China may start land reform trials - Chinese press - (CN) Super smog hits northern China; schools, highways closed - Chinese press
- (TW) Taiwan forecasts 2013 budget deficit NT$100B - financial press
***Equities*** Market Snapshot (as of 03:30 GMT): - Nikkei225 flat, S&P/ASX +0.4%, Kospi -0.1%, Shanghai Composite -0.6%, Hang Seng -0.4%, Dec S&P500 flat at 1,745, Dec gold -0.1% at $1,315, Nov crude oil -0.3% at $98.89/brl
US markets: - VMW: Reports Q3 $0.84 v $0.82e, R$1.29B v $1.29Be; Maintains FY13 rev guidance midpoint at $5.19B v 5.19Be, narrows FY13 Rev range to $5.18-5.21B (prior $5.12-5.26B) - conf call; +11.3% afterhours - NFLX: Reports Q3 $0.52 v $0.49e, R$1.11B v $1.10Be; -2.0% afterhours - MSO: Announces Revised Partnership Agreement with JC Penney; +6.2% afterhours - TJX: Guides Q3 $0.73-0.74 (ex tax benefit) v $0.73e (prior $0.69-0.72); SSS +4% (+2-3% prior); Affirms Q4 $0.77-0.80 v $0.84e; +2.9% afterhours - RIG: To replace Dell in S&P 500 after the close of trading on Monday, October 28; +4.4% afterhours - PDLI: Acquires Portfolio of Diabetes Royalty Rights and Milestones from Depomed for $240.5M; +0.4% afterhours - DFS: Reports Q3 $1.20 v $1.20e, R$2.06B v $1.77Be; -4.0% afterhours - SYMM: To be acquired by Microsemi for $7.18 per share (premium of about 49%); accretive to Microsemi earnings in FY14; deal valued at $230M; +2.3% afterhours - THO: Completes bus sale; declares $1.00 special dividend; -0.2% afterhours - TXN: Reports Q3 $0.56 v $0.53e, R$3.24B v $3.23Be; -3.2% afterhours - BHP: Reports Q1 Iron Ore Production 48.9M v 47.7M tons q/q, +23% y/y; Raises FY14 Ire ore production guidance to 212M tons; +1.0% afterhours
Notable movers by sector: - Consumer discretionary: APN News APN.AU +7.1% (in talks to sell JV) - Consumer staples: Yantai Changyu Pioneer Wine Co Ltd 000869.CN -2.3% (Q3 results); Zhangzidao Group Co Ltd 002069.CN +5.0% (provides FY guidance) - Industrials: Fujian Longking Co Ltd 600388.CN +5.2%, Beijing SPC Environment Protection Tech 002573.CN +2.7%, Kelin Environmental Protection Equipment Inc 002499.CN +7.0% (smog levels); CSR Corp 1766.HK +3.0% (awarded contract) - Materials: BHP Billiton Ltd BHP.AU +2.3% (Q1 results); LIXIL Group Corp 5938.JP +1.1% (raises guidance); Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co Ltd 5706.JP (raises guidance); Shaanxi Qinling Cement Co Ltd 600217.CN -2.2% (Q3 results); Henan Tongli Cement Co Ltd 000885.CN -3.0% (Q3 results) - Financials: Shinhan Financial Group ADS 055550.KR -3.2% (block sale from shareholder); Tianjin Reality Development Group Co Ltd 600322.CN +6.5%, Tianjin Port Development Holdings Ltd 600717.CN +10.0%, Tianjin Songjiang Co Ltd 600225.CN +10.0%, Tianjin Marine Shipping Co Ltd 600751.CN +10.0%; Shenzhen Overseas Chinese Town Co Ltd 000069.CN +1.5% (Q3 results); China Merchants Securities Co Ltd 600999.CN -1.3% (speculation on op loss in investment banking business)