Asian Market Update: Equities slide as investors question the strength of recovery
***Economic Data*** - (JP) JAPAN NOV CURRENT ACCOUNT BALANCE: -¥592.8B V -¥368.9BE; ADJ CURRENT ACCOUNT: -¥46.6B (third consecutive deficit) V ¥27.9BE; TRADE BALANCE BOP BASIS: -¥1.25T V -¥1.23TE - (JP) JAPAN DEC BANKRUPTCIES Y/Y: -15.7% V -10.6% PRIOR - (JP) JAPAN DEC BANK LENDING EX TRUSTS Y/Y: 2.6% V 2.4% PRIOR; BANK LENDING INCL TRUSTS Y/Y: 2.3% V 2.2% PRIOR - (NZ) NEW ZEALAND DEC QV HOUSE PRICES Y/Y: 10.0% V 9.2% PRIOR (fastest pace in six years) - (NZ) NEW ZEALAND DEC RETAIL CARD SPENDING M/M: 0.6% V 1.0%E; TOTAL CARD SPENDING M/M: 1.0% V 0.2% PRIOR - (NZ) NEW ZEALAND Q4 NZIER BUSINESS OPINION SURVEY: 52 V 38 PRIOR (multi-year high) - (KR) SOUTH KOREA DEC EXPORT PRICE INDEX M/M: -0.3% V -0.8% PRIOR; Y/Y: -2.1% V -2.5% PRIOR; IMPORT PRICE INDEX M/M: +0.4% V -0.5% PRIOR; Y/Y: -3.5% V -4.9% PRIOR
***Observations/Insights*** - Time Warner Cable board formally rejects Charter Communications bid, deeming it "well below comparable transaction multiples". - Nikkei falls over 3% in afternoon trade, weighed down by stronger JPY and large decline in US indices. Separately, Japan posted a rise in current account deficit, prompting concern from cabinet officials. - PBoC was on the sidelines on open market operations for the 3rd week; Speculation over China 2014 GDP from analysts spanning a wide range - as low as 7.0% to as high as 8.6%. - US Q4 earnings focus turns to banks, with JPMorgan and Wells Fargo reporting results before market open.
***Fixed Income/Commodities/Currencies*** - (JP) BOJ offers to buy ¥250B in 1-3 yr JGB, ¥250B in 3-5 yr JGB, ¥400B in 5-10yr JGB and ¥2.5T in T-bills - (CN) PBoC won't conduct open market operations (OMO) in today's session (6th consecutive session of halted operations) - (CN) China Gold Association: China Nov gold production 44.5T v 39.8T m/m - financial press - USD/CNY: (CN) PBoC sets yuan mid point at 6.0930 v 6.0950 prior setting (record high setting for Yuan) - SLV: iShares Silver Trust ETF daily holdings fall to 9,894 tonnes (lowest since 9,890 on June 26th) from 9,954 tonnes
- USD/JPY and AUD/USD saw the largest moves among the USD majors, as both pairs consolidated some of the recent dollar weakness in the wake of poor jobs data. USD/JPY rose about 50pips from session-opening lows to as high as 103.50 before retreating from those highs, while AUD/USD fell over 30pips to $0.9020. Regional economic calendar is quiet until the Thursday release of Australia jobs data, and analysts appear to be divided on whether the unemployment rate will continue to edge higher toward 6%. Meanwhile, the focus turns to US retail figures in US session for confirmation of a tepid holiday season in December.
***Speakers/Political/In the Papers*** - (CN) 5 companies in China confirm to delay IPO listing after China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) tightens IPO policies - financial press - (CN) Deutsche Bank sees China 2014 GDP as high as 8.6% - China Daily - (CN) CitiGroup: reiterates China 2014 GDP target 7.3% - (CN) UBS chief China economist: If China meets its major challenges properly, it can achieve 2014 GDP of 7.8%, up from expected 7.6% in 2013 - Shanghai Daily (update) - (CN) Several provinces in China release GDP expectations; Sees slower GDP growth rate in 2014 v 2013 - (CN) Fitch: Sees China 2013 GDP at 7.6% v 7.5% official target, sees 2014, 2015 GDP at 7.0% - Chinese press - (JP) Japan Econ Min Amari: need to focus on current account deficit - (KR) South Korea Trade Ministry: govt attempts to stabilize fx market against weaker Yen - financial press - (NZ) Westpac senior economist: Still believe that RBNZ will start raising OCR in March; To use next meeting on Jan 30th to signal rate hike - NZ press
- (US) Follow up: House, Senate appropriators unveil $1T US spending measure; would fund govt through to Sept 30
***Equities*** Market Snapshot (as of 04:30 GMT): - Nikkei225 -2.4%, S&P/ASX -1.5%, Kospi -0.2%, Shanghai Composite +0.6%, Hang Seng -0.2%, Mar S&P500 +0.1% at 1,816, Feb gold flat at $1,251, Feb crude oil +0.2% at $91.97/brl
US markets: - TWC: Board unanimously rejects 3rd proposal from Charter Communications; Proposal well below comparable transaction multiples +1.9% afterhours - BHE: Expects EPS, Rev to exceed high-end of Q4 guidance of $0.34-0.38 v $0.36e, Rev $685-715M v $677Me; +3.1% afterhours - FLR: Awarded order with JGC Corp from Chevron for LNG project in Canada; Total order to be around ¥500B - Nikkei News; +2.5% afterhours - HLS: Guides FY13 EPS higher to $2.50-2.52 ($2.43-2.46 prior); EBITDA higher to $542-545M ($533-538M prior); +1.8% afterhours - REGN: Enters into agreement with Bayer to develop new treatment option for wet age-related macular degeneration; REGN to receive $25.5M upfront payment; +0.1% afterhours - YUM: Reports Dec China SSS +2.0% v +1.0% m/m; -0.8% afterhours
Notable movers by sector: - Consumer Discretionary: China LotSynergy Holdings 1371.HK +12.0% (extends cooperation with China Mobile); FAW Cars 000800.CN +4.6%, Dongfeng Motor 600006.CN +7.0%, Shenyang Jinbei Automotive 600609.CN +10.0% (China issues statement on military-use vehicles); Great Wall Motor 2333.HK -11.5% (delays launch of Haval H8 Model) - Financials: Jiangsu Phoenix Property Investment 600716.CN +4.0% (strategic alliance); Shaanxi International Trust 000563.CN +2.2% (prelim FY13 results); Citychamp Dartong 600067.CN +3.6% (FY13 guidance) - Materials: Inner Mongolia Yuan Xing Energy 000683.CN +2.8% (FY13 guidance); Forge Group FGE.AU -17.6% (expects additional profit write-down); Regis Resources RRL.AU -5.5% (Q4 gold production) - Technology: Sumavision Technologies 300079.CN +5.7% (proposes special dividend); Ingenic Semiconductor 300223.CN +4.9% (positive comment from Chinese press); Sun King Power Electronics Group 580.HK +10.7% (positive profit alert); Synnex Technology International Corp 2347.TW +5.7% (Dec results) - Healthcare: Livzon Pharmaceutical Group 000513.CN +3.1% (prelim FY13 result)