Asian Mid-session Update: BOJ maintains policy settings, scales back inflation outlook
***Economic Data***
- (CN) China Feb FDI Y/Y: 0.9% v 29.4% prior
- (SG) SINGAPORE FEB ELECTRONIC EXPORTS Y/Y: -12.5% V -7.7%E; NON-OIL DOMESTIC EXPORTS M/M: -9.4% V -1.6%E; Y/Y: -9.7% V -0.9%E
- (AU) Australia ANZ Roy Morgan Weekly Consumer Confidence Index: 110.8 v 110.3 prior
***Index Snapshot (as of 02:30 GMT)***
- Nikkei225 +0.9%, S&P/ASX +1.0%, Kospi +1.5%, Shanghai Composite +0.8%, Hang Seng +0.1%, Jun S&P500 flat at 2,066
***Commodities/Fixed Income***
- Apr gold +0.1% at $1,155, Apr crude oil -0.2% at $43.74/brl
- USD/CNY: PBoC sets yuan mid point at 6.1585 v 6.1615 prior setting (strongest Yuan setting since Mar 10th)
- (CN) PBoC to inject CNY20B in 7-day reverse repos (6th consecutive injection)
***Market Focal Points/FX***
- Volatility in FX space remains minimal ahead of Wednesday's FOMC with EUR/USD in a 30pip range above 1.0550, USD/JPY in a 20pip range below 121.50, and AUD/USD supported above 0.76. BOJ policy statement and RBA meeting minutes were the key risk events, and the initial declines in thee USD/JPY and AUD/USD pairs were quickly pared. In equities, Shanghai Composite extended overnight gains to rise above 3,480 - the highest level since mid-2008 - while Tokyo, Sydney, and Seoul markets were also firm, tracking a strong session of gains in the US hours.
- BOJ policy statement was largely a reiteration of the prior month, maintaining annual rate of monetary base increase at ¥80T, and reiterating economic assessment of economy continuing moderate recovery trend. Board member Kiuchi remained the lone dissenter in favor of a more protracted timeframe for inflation target. The only change in the statement related to inflation, where the BOJ scaled back its current CPI view to 0.0-0.5% from around 0.5% and the outlook for inflation to also be around 0% vs prior "slow for time being". USD/JPY fell about 20pips below 121.30 on the release with little indication that further policy easing may be in the works for April. Separately, Fin Min Aso spoke of risks to Japan economy from the slowdown in China, and also acknowledged that it will take longer to exit deflationary mindset than 1-2 years after some 20 years of negative price trends.
- RBA board minutes paved the way to potential additional easing after this month's surprise rate hold against the expected 2nd consecutive rate cut. Minutes said a new cut may become appropriate, the economy is operating with spare capacity, and non-mining investment is subdued for longer than expected, while also noting the risks of a property market bubble, preferring to allow the markets to digest the February rate cut before moving again. On exchange rate, RBA reiterated AUD is still above most estimates of fundamental value. AUD/USD fell about 30pips to 0.7610 on the release.
- In China, PBoC injected another CNY20B via 7-day reverse repos in the system but also lowered its offering yield by another 10bps to 3.65%. This follows a similar 10bps reduction in the offering yield made one week ago. Also of note on the mainland, China February FDI slowed dramatically, and Commerce Ministry spokesperson attributed the strong rise in February exports to seasonality of the holidays and US recovery. In a sign of Beijing's increasing discomfort with FX volatility, MOFCOM's Shen said weaker EUR increases pressure on exports along with creating opportunities for Europe acquisitions.
***Equities***
US markets:
- AAL: To replace Allergan in S&P 500 after the close of trading on March 20; +4.2% afterhours
- NUS: Receives Direct Selling Authorization For Additional City In Mainland China; +2.3% afterhours
- FL: Announces Updated Strategic Growth Initiatives And Elevated Long-Term Financial Objectives; -0.2% afterhours
- ANW: Reports Q4 $0.22 (adj) v $0.22e, R$1.44B v $1.59Be; -0.7% afterhours
- CALL: Reports Q4 $0.15 (adj) v $0.14e (1 est), R$25.7M v $38.2M y/y; -10.7% afterhours
- BOOM: Reports Q4 $0.06 v $0.17e; R$52.0M v $51.6Me; -12.0% afterhours
- AAPL: Said to be in talks to launch a bundled online TV service by this fall; Would be availabe on devices such as Apple TV - financial press
Notable movers by sector:
- Consumer Discretionary: Dulux Group DLX.AU +1.9% (announces supply chain investments); Panasonic Corporation 6752.JP +1.7% (announces acquisition)
- Financials: Poly Real Estate 600048.CN +1.7% (FY14 results)
- Materials: Iluka Resources ILU.AU +1.2% (signs for copper-gold project); BHP Billiton Ltd BHP.AU +1.2% (to demerge South32)
- Energy: Tokyo Gas 9531.JP +2.2% (may announce repurchase)
- Industrials: Hitachi Ltd 6501.JP +3.9%, Mitsubishi Heavy 6501.JP +2.4% (Hitachi, Mitsubishi Heavy aim to raise ROE to above 10%)