Asian Mid-session Update: Australia lost jobs in April; Asian market extend losses
***Economic Data***
*(JP) JAPAN APR MARKIT SERVICES PMI: 51.3 V 48.4 PRIOR; 1st expansion in 3 months
*(AU) AUSTRALIA APR EMPLOYMENT CHANGE: -2.9K V +4.0KE; UNEMPLOYMENT RATE: 6.2% V 6.2%E
*(JP) JAPAN APR MONETARY BASE Y/Y: 35.2% V 35.2% PRIOR; MONETARY BASE END OF PERIOD: ¥305.9T V ¥295.9T PRIOR
*(AU) AUSTRALIA APR AIG PERFORMANCE OF CONSTRUCTION INDEX: 47.0 V 50.1 PRIOR
(MY) Malaysia Mar Trade Balance (MYR): 7.8B v 5.2Be
(TH) Thailand Apr Consumer Confidence: 76.6 v 77.7 prior
***Index Snapshot (as of 02:30 GMT)***
- Nikkei225 -1.1%, S&P/ASX -0.9%, Kospi -1.6%, Shanghai Composite -1.0%, Hang Seng -0.4%, Jun S&P500 +0.1% at 2,076
***Commodities/Fixed Income***
- Jun gold -0.3% at $1,187/oz, Jun crude oil -1.0% at $60.34/brl, May copper -0.5% at $2.92/lb
- USD/CNY: PBoC sets yuan mid point at 6.1113 v 6.1156 prior (strongest Yuan setting since Feb)
- USD/KRW: Onshore opens at KRW1,078 v KRW1,080 prior close
- (CN) PBoC won't conduct open market operations (OMO) in today's session (6th consecutive halt); Net zero position this week (2nd consecutive week of neutral position)
- (JP) BOJ offers to buy ¥400B in 5-10yr JGBs, ¥240B in 10-25yr JGBs and ¥140B in JGBs with maturity over 25-yr
- (NZ) NZ 2035 indexed linked yield up over 15bps, amid failed auction
***Market Focal Points/FX***
- Australia April employment change posted a loss of 2.9K jobs, missing expectations for an increase of 4.0K with unemployment rate in line with consensus of 6.2%. Full-time employment decreased by 21.9K, while part-time employment failed to offset the decline by 19.0K rise. The participation rate was in line with estimates and unchanged from prior month. As a result, AUD/USD slipped about 30pips below $0.7930 after the data but quickly bounced back towards $0.8000 level. The central bank is set to release quarterly monetary policy statement Friday with investors casting an eye on how it will gauge its easing bias.
- Asian markets extend in negative territory with Japan returned from Golden Week holiday. Shanghai Composite dived 1.4% in morning session deepening fears for speculation on margin control and new listings to snap funds from markets. Japan services sector moved back into expansion for the first time in three months.
- In notable equity developments, National Australia Bank made a cash profit of A$3.3B in first six months, in line with expectations. Company also planned a massive A$5.5B capital raising as it prepared to demerger and IPO of UK business. NAB shares are currently in a trading halt.
***Equities***
US equities / ADRs:
- TRIP: Reports Q1 $0.54 v $0.55e, R$363M v $364Me; -1.1% afterhours
- GMCR: Reports Q2 $1.03 v $1.05e, R$1.13B v $1.16Be; -1.8% afterhours
- WBMD: Reports Q1 $0.25 v $0.23e, R$143.3M v $142Me; +0.4% afterhours
- CZR: Reports Q1 $ v -$1.53e, R$1.25B v $2.18Be; -1.1% afterhours
- FOXA: Reports Q3 $0.42 v $0.40e, R$6.84B v $6.99Be; -0.7% afterhours
- ACAS: Reports Q1 $0.28 v $0.20e, R$154M v $138Me; Change in spin-off plans; +0.6% afterhours
- WFM: Reports Q2 $0.44 v $0.42e, R$3.65B v $3.71Be; Launches new "value format" store; +0.4% afterhours
- MKL: Reports Q1 $13.49 v $5.88e, R$1.30B v $1.08Be; -0.1% afterhours
- KND: Reports Q1 $0.34 v $0.27e, R$1.68B v $1.69Be; -0.9% afterhours
- NUS: Reports Q1 $0.72 (ex $0.12 on Venezeula FX)* v $0.73e, R$543M v $542Me; +4.2% afterhours
- TSLA: Reports Q1 -$0.36 v -$0.52e, R$1.1B (adj) v $1.04Be; -1.1% afterhours
- NSIT: Reports Q1 $0.27 v $0.27e, R$1.22B v $1.23Be; +1.1% afterhours
- BGC: Reports Q1 $0.35 v -$0.12e, R$1.26B v $1.20Be; -0.9% afterhours
- PRU: Reports Q1 $2.79 v $2.41e, R$11.8B v $10.9Be; +0.4% afterhours
- MET: Reports Q1 $1.44 v $1.41e, R$18.7B v $17.5Be; -0.6% afterhours
- CF: Reports Q1 $4.79 v $4.61e, R$953.6M v $965Me; Plant expansion construction on track for Q315
- MRO: Reports Q1 -$0.37 v -$0.47e, R$1.53B v $1.71Be; -0.5% afterhours
Notable movers by sector:
- Financials: Scentre Group SCG.AU -1.3% (Q1 results); China Taiping Insurance 966.HK -1.2% (to sell new shares); AMP Limited AMP.AU -0.9% (Q1 results)
- Industrials: Shenzhen Airport 000089.CN -2.2% (April results);CITIC Heavy Industries 601608.CN +10.0% (acquisition announcement); Huayi Electric 600290.CN -1.1% (to issue new shares); Great Wall Moto 2333.HK -1.3% (April results)