Asian Market Update: Japan airlines operate across China's "air identification zone" without incident; Germany forges "grand coalition" with center-left SPD
***Observations/Insights*** - Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways flew across the China-declared "air identification zone" without a hitch; Japan and US foreign ministers vowed tight cooperation following China announcement, while the US Air Force had also reportedly flew its B-52s over the East China Sea. - Euro rose to 1-month high against USD and 4-year high vs JPY amid reports German Chancellor Merkel's CSU/CDU finally reached a deal with the center-left SPD to form a grand coalition. Earlier in the day, reports affirmed earlier speculation that the ruling parties will no longer oppose minimum wage reform in Germany. - Several large cities in China announce regulators are raising downpayment requirements to purchase a 2nd home to as high as 70%. - Australia low-rate policy reflected in another improvement in the quarterly housing affordability survey. - BOJ board member Shirai - one of the dissenters profiled in yesterday's release of BOJ policy meeting minutes - reiterated some further focus must be given to downside risks on inflation and economic objectives.
***Economic Data*** - (NZ) NEW ZEALAND OCT TRADE BALANCE (NZ$): -168M v -350Me (4th consecutive trade deficit) - (AU) AUSTRALIA Q3 CONSTRUCTION WORK DONE Q/Q: 2.7% V 0.5%E (6-quarter high) - (AU) AUSTRALIA Q3 CBA/HIA HOUSE AFFORDABILITY: 75.1 V 72.8 PRIOR - (KR) SOUTH KOREA DEC BUSINESS SURVEY MANUFACTURING: 78 V 83 PRIOR (4-month low); BUSINESS SURVEY NON-MANUFACTURING: 72 V 70 PRIOR - (TH) THAILAND OCT TRADE BALANCE: -$1.8B v +$1.8BE
***Fixed Income/Commodities/Currencies*** - (US) API PETROLEUM INVENTORIES: CRUDE: +6.92M (9th consecutive build and largest build since June) v +0.5Me; GASOLINE: +0.2M v +0.5Me; DISTILLATE: -1.7M v -1Me - (JP) BOJ offers to buy ¥400B in 5-10yr JGBs and ¥200B in JGBs with maturity over 10-yr - (AU) Australia MoF (AOFM) sells A$800M in 4.5% 2020 Notes; avg yield: 3.7061%; bid-to-cover: 4.29x
- USD/CNY: (CN) PBoC sets yuan mid point at 6.1330 v 6.1357 prior setting (strongest yuan setting since Nov 19th) - EUR/USD tested 4-week highs above $1.36; EUR/JPY: Rises to 4-year highs above ¥138 handle; NZD/USD briefly retests $0.82 following lower than expected trade deficit.
***Speakers/Political/In the Papers*** - (CN) According to Platts, China Oct oil demand rose 0.9% y/y to 9.83M bpd - (CN) China Iron and Steel Association (CISA): sees FY14 crude steel production around 800Mt v 790Mt forecast for 2013 - (CN) China Qinhuangdao coal stockpile at 4.75Mt, deceased 700Kt in a week; Coal stockpile at 2-yr low - (CN) China may issue new policies to allow more companies to have fuel import rights in near term - Chinese press - (CN) China's City of Hangzhou, Nanjing, Xiamen said to have adjusted down payment requirement for 2nd homes; To require at least 70% - financial press
- (JP) BOJ board member Shirai: must be aware of downside risks to prices and economy - (JP) Japan Foreign Min Kishida and US State Sec Kerry held talks yesterday; Intend to cooperate closely on China "air defense identification" zone announcement - Kyodo
- (AU) Australia Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics (BREE): Number of major resource investment projects fell to 63 in Oct from 73 in Apr; Sees potential for a rebound in resource/energy investment in 2015 - financial press
- (KR) Bank of Korea (BOK): Rising KRW/JPY may harm domestic exporters profit; Exporters concerned about China slowdown - Quarterly Golden book - (KR) South Korea MOF denies speculation it has requested that the BOK cut its key rate - financial press
- (DE) Chancellor Merkel's CDU and SPD said to have reached an accord for 'grand coalition'- US financial press - (IT) Italy PM Letta survives confidence vote on the budget in the Senate - financial press
***Equities*** Market Snapshot (as of 04:30 GMT): - Nikkei225 -0.3%, S&P/ASX -0.3%, Kospi -0.3%, Shanghai Composite +0.7%, Hang Seng +0.5%, Dec S&P500 flat at 1,802, Feb gold +0.4% at $1,246, Jan crude oil -0.2% at $93.49/brl
US markets: - DRTX: FDA approves priority review status of NDA for Dalvance; +8.4% afterhours - FWLT: Reportedly engineering consultancy AMEC Plc is considering a bid for Foster Wheeler - UK press; +7.6% afterhours - HPQ: Reports Q4 $1.01 v $1.01e, R$29.1B v $28.0Be; HPQ: CEO: still have a lot of work to do, but pleased with the progress we have made in first two years of turnaround plan - conf call; +5.4% afterhours - AVAV: Reports Q2 $0.14 v $0.07e, R$64.9M v $55.3Me; +4.0% afterhours - GNC: Announces $500M (9% of market cap) Share Repurchase Authorization, Term Loan increase and repricing; +1.4% afterhours
- RBS: UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO) may open a criminal investigation into the company - financial press; -1.2% afterhours - ADI: Reports Q4 $0.62 (adj) v $0.58e, R$678M v $689Me; -3.5% afterhours
Notable movers by sector: - Consumer discretionary: Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Ltd 1929.HK +2.1% (H1 results); Huabao International 336.HK +8.0% (H1 results); Panasonic Corporation 6752.JP +3.2% (to sell chip manufacturing plants) - Industrials: Shanghai Safbon Water Service Co Ltd 300262.CN +2.8% (awarded contract); GrainCorp GNC.AU +2.1% (ADM announces enhanced acquisition); Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co Ltd 600820.CN +1.9% (awarded order) - Financials: Pacific Securities Co Ltd 601099.CN +10.1%, YunNan Metropolitan Real Estate Development Co Ltd 600239.CN +10.0%, Yunnan Tourism Co Ltd 002059.CN +5.7%, Yunnan Nantian Electronics Information Co Ltd 000948.CN +3.5% (speculation on Yunnan free trade zone); Sinolink Securities Co Ltd 600109.CN +6.7% (strategic alliance with Tencent) - Technology: Rakuten Inc 4755.JP +7.6% (to include in the Topix Index) - Energy: China Gas Holdings Ltd 384.HK +5.7% (H1 results) - Utilities: TEPCO 9501.JP +3.4% (earnings outlook for the next 10 years) - Telecom: China Mobile 941.HK +1.1% (to launch 4G services)