Asian Mid-session Update: Shanghai, Australia weighed down by poor April China data
***Economic Data***
- (NZ) NEW ZEALAND Q1 RETAIL SALES EX-INFLATION Q/Q: 2.7% V 1.6%E; 8-year high
- (NZ) NEW ZEALAND APR MANUFACTURING PMI: 51.8 V 54.6 PRIOR
- (JP) JAPAN APR M2 MONEY SUPPLY Y/Y: 3.6% V 3.6%E; M3 MONEY SUPPLY Y/Y: 3.0% V 3.0%E
- (KR) South Korea March Adj M2 Money Supply M/M: +0.9% v 1.0% prior
- (UK) UK APR RICS HOUSE PRICE BALANCE: 33% V 22%E; 8-month high
***Index Snapshot (as of 02:30 GMT)***
- Nikkei225 -0.6%, S&P/ASX -0.8%, Kospi +0.1%, Shanghai Composite -0.6%, Hang Seng flat, Jun S&P500 +0.1% at 2,095
***Commodities/Fixed Income***
- Jun gold -0.4% at $1,213/oz, Jun crude oil -0.5% at $60.18/brl, Jul copper -0.3% at $2.92/lb
- JGB: (JP) Japan MoF sells ¥799B in 1.5% (1.5% prior) 30-yr bonds; Avg yield: 1.5260% v 1.3750% prior; Bid to cover: 2.74x (lowest since Feb) v 2.86x prior
- (CN) PBoC won't conduct open market operations (OMO) in today's session (8th consecutive halt); Net zero position this week (3rd consecutive week of neutral position)
- USD/CNY: PBoC sets yuan mid point at 6.1093 v 6.1123 prior setting; strongest Yuan setting since Feb 2014
- (JP) Japan investors bought net ¥493B in foreign bonds v bought ¥185B in prior week; Foreign investors bought net ¥72.7B in Japan stocks v bought ¥821B in prior week
***Market Focal Points/FX***
- Asian indices are generally lower, as downbeat retail sales out of the US added to the gloomy picture painted by the latest set of economic data released from China overnight. Subsequent comments from sell-side economists noted just as much - RBC remarked that investment components were especially lackluster, while ANZ speculated this round of data could lead to Q2 GDP coming in below 7% annual target. Locally, Pudong Development bank said the volume of loans is insufficient to boost the economy, reflecting weakness in credit demand and potential capital outflows. Tencent was one of the few bright spots out of the Far East, rising nearly 3% after earnings. China ADRs CTRP and NTES were also up sharply afterhours following standout results.
- Australia's S&P/ASX is a laggard among the key markets, weighed down by basic materials names. BHP and Rio Tinto are both down about 2% in late trade. Worries over demand for iron ore following disappointing industrial production figures on the mainland are a factor. On top of that, China Iron and Steel Association (CISA) warned that the country's steel consumption could fall by as much as 6% this year.
- In notable FX movers, NZD was once again volative, building on yesterday's gains with a 60pip rally after strong retail sales.
***Equities***
US equities / ADRs:
- CTRP: Reports Q1 $0.04 v -$0.27e, R$373M v $362Me; +11.4% afterhours
- VIPS: Reports Q1 $0.39 v $0.11e, R$1.39B v $1.26Be; +6.8% afterhours
- NTES: Reports Q1 $1.74 v $1.41e, R$626.8M v $506Me; +5.0% afterhours
- CSCO: Reports Q3 $0.54 v $0.53e, R$12.1B v $12.0Be; Guides Q4 Rev +1-3% v +1.6%e (implies $12.5-12.8B v $12.6Be) - conf call; -0.7% afterhours
- JCP: Reports Q1 -$0.57 v -$0.79e, R$2.86B v $2.87Be; -0.8% afterhours
- DGLY: Reports Q1 -$0.45 v -$0.13 y/y, R$4.2M v $3.9M y/y; -18.9% afterhours
Notable movers by sector:
- Consumer discretionary: Sydney Airport SYD.AU -2.1% (capex projection); Hankook Tire Co 161390.KR +0.8% (considers to invest in Dongbu Express)
- Financials: China Vanke 000002.CN +3.2%, Dalian Wanda Commercial Properties 3699.HK +3.2% (speculation on strategic cooperation); Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group 8316.JP -3.0% (FY14/15 results)
- Industrials: Nissan Motor Co 7201.JP +2.2% (FY14/15 results); Takata Corp 7312.JP -3.3% (airbag recall); GrainCorp GNC.AU -3.2% (H1 results); Hutchison Whampoa 13.HK +0.5% (potential jv with VIP); Mitsubishi Chemical 4188.JP -2.2% (FY14/15 results)
- Technology: Japan Display 6740.JP -3.8% (FY14/15 results); Toshiba Corporation 6502.JP +2.9% (projects op loss); Tencent 700.HK +2.6% (Q1 results)
- Utilities: AusNet Services AST.AU -1.0% (FY14 results)