Asian Market Update: China exports growth recovers; Ebola strikes again in Dallas
***Economic Data*** - (CN) CHINA SEPT TRADE BALANCE: $31.0B (5-month low) V $41.1BE; Exports Y/Y: 15.3% v 12.0%e; Imports Y/Y: +7.0% v -2.0%e - (AU) AUSTRALIA AUG CREDIT CARD BALANCES: A$49.5B V A$49.4B PRIOR; CREDIT CARD PURCHASES: A$22.3B V A$23.4B PRIOR - (NZ) NEW ZEALAND SEPT FOOD PRICES M/M: -0.8% (biggest decline in 7 months) V +0.3% PRIOR - (NZ) New Zealand REINZ Sept House Price Index: 3,933 v 3,926 prior; M/M: +0.2% v +1.1% prior; House Sales Y/Y: -10.2% v -16.3% prior
***Index Snapshot (as of 02:30 GMT)*** - Nikkei225 closed, S&P/ASX -0.6%, Kospi -0.5%, Shanghai Composite -1.1%, Hang Seng -0.8%, Sept S&P500 -0.5% at 1,885
***Commodities/Fixed Income*** - Dec gold +1.0% at $1,234, Nov crude oil -1.1% at $84.86/brl - USD/CNY: ECB said to discuss whether to add RMB to fx reserves - financial press - (CN) China to raise resource tax on crude oil and natural gas to 6% from 5%; To levy resource tax on coal from 2-10%, effective on Dec 1st - financial press
***Market Focal Points/Key Themes/FX*** - Following the steep decline in the US markets on Friday, Asian bourses are trading markedly lower on concerns related to the global economic recovery. US equity futures are pointing to extension of last week's selloff, dragged down by Ebola fears after confirmation that a medical worker in Dallas who cared for deceased patient from west Africa also contracted the disease. This marks the first Ebola infection in the US, and should continue to weigh on the travel industry.
- China September exports surged 15.3% from the prior year, handily beating estimates of 12.0%. Overall the trade balance came in as a surplus of $31.0B, lower than the expected $41.1B. Closely-tracked imports rose 7.0%, above the expected decline of 2.0%. Following the release of the trade data, an official from China Customs said the country faces difficulties in achieving an annual trade growth target of 7.5%, but expects trade to improve over the next 2-3 months.
- Also of note in China, PBoC Gov Zhou reiterated the central bank would maintain prudent monetary policy, and that inflation would remain stable. PBoC top economic advisor Ma Jun added that China's slowing economy does not need any big stimulus, with the job market remaining strong.
- Press reports indicated that China plans to raise the resource tax on crude oil and natural gas, as well as coal. There was also some speculation that China will levy taxes on iron ore. Coke futures in China traded higher by 2%, while iron ore traded limit up 4%.
- WTI and Brent crude lost over a percent, also extending losses from last week, after the Kuwait oil minister on Sunday said that OPEC is not likely to cut production to support falling prices. He also does not expect prices to fall below $76-77/barrel, noting that members were still able to adjust to current prices.
- Fed Vice Chair Fischer spoke over the weekend, expressing uncertainty regarding FOMC economic projections and steering on the side of caution. Fischer noted Europe has become a major concern and may yet encounter recession or deflation, while also affirming the Fed is monitoring the headwinds from the stronger dollar.
***Equities*** US markets: - CSX: Said to have rebuffed merger proposal from Canadian Pacific last week - financial press - SHLD: Discloses data breach at Kmart; certain debit and credit card numbers have been compromised - filing
Notable movers by sector: - Financials: Agile Property 3383.HK -20.3% (Chairman home arrested) - Energy: Offshore Oil Engineering 600583.CN +0.4% (awarded orders) - Industrials: AviChina Industry & Technology 2357.HK -3.8% (acquisition); China State Construction Holdings 3311.HK -4.3% (Sept results); WDS Ltd WDS.AU -66.7% (FY15 guidance) - Technology: Synertone Communication 1613.HK +8.6% (enters MOU to issue shares)