Asia equity markets are slightly higher, though trading conditions remain muted after Monday's US holiday. Nikkei225 is one of the better performing indices on weakness in JPY, while tepid earnings season in Australia continues to weigh on S&P/ASX 200. USD traded firmer following hawkish set of comments from Fed voter Harker, particularly gaining vs JPY, NZD, and EUR. Harker reiterated that March meeting should be on the table for next rate hike, adding the Fed is not behind the curve, the economy is healthy, and job growth is steady. Japan flash manufacturing PMI offered a glimpse of February economic data, and the signs were positive. 53.5 was a multi-year high. PBOC says it is conducting an evaluation of a targeted RRR cut this month; Changes to take effect on Feb 27th; Adjustments to targeted rates will be made both upward and downward.
Nikkei +0.68% Hnsg Seng -0.60% CSI +0.18% Shanghai +0.26%
Eur$ 1.0586 CNH 6.8648 CNY 6.8821 JPY 113.51 CHF 1.0053 RUB 57.873 WTI$ 53.70+0.58%
S&P +0.15% EuroStoxx +0.03% Dax -0.05% FTSE -0.18% (HSBC) SMI +0.06%
Macro :
- Greece Misses Another Bailout Deadline as Talks Set to Resume
- EC Wants U.K. to Pay Into EU Projects Until End-2023: Telegraph
Keep an eye on :
- AAL LN : Anglo Said to Cap Value of Share Awards to Top Executives: Sky
- AF FP : Air France Wins Pilots’ Approval on Low-Cost Boost Airline
- BLT LN : BHP Billiton Board Approves Bond Buyback Plan of Up to $2.5b
- CABK SM : Caixa Picks 5 Banks to Advise on EU500m Bond Sale, ECP.pt Says
- COB LN : Cobham Said to Consider Rights Offering of GBP300m-GBP600m
- DGE LN : Diageo May Finalize United Spirits Open Offer This Week: CNBC
- ENEA SS : Enea Evaluates Possibility to Carry Out Directed Share Issue
- G IM : Generali Had 4.49% Holding in Intesa Sanpaolo as of Feb. 20
- HSBA LN : HSBC 4Q Adjusted Pretax Profit $2.62b; Est. $3.78b, HSBC 4Q Common Equity Tier 1 Ratio 13.6% -->-4& in HK
- LSG NO : Leroy 4Q Ebit Beats Estimates; Proposes NOK13/Share Dividend
- NOVOB DC : Novo Nordisk Deputy Chairman Tells JP He’s Not Running for Chair
- OSI FP : Randstad France to Implement Squeeze-Out Ausy Shares, ORNANE (€ 55.00 per Ausy share and € 63.25 (plus accrued interests), i.e. € 63.51, per Ausy ORNANE)
- ROG SW : Roche Wins EU Approval for Alecensa Lung Cancer Drug
- GLE FP : SocGen Deputy Corporate/Investment Banking Head Mianne to Leave
- SOLB BB : Solvay Raises Prices for All Silica Products by 10% as of April
- TEF SM : Telefonica to Sell Up to 40% of Telxius to KKR for EU1.28B
- WAC GY : Wacker Neuson Sounding Out Mkt Interest in Real Estate Co.
- WMN SW : Walter Meier, Tobler Haustechnik to Combine