General trend
- Asian markets have remained mixed.
- Nikkei is still lower after the negative open [Topix Air Transportation, Banks, Pharma and Securities indices are among the decliners; Automakers also trade generally lower amid continued reports related to chip shortages; Marine Transportation index outperforms; Fast Retailing and Seven & I are due to report earnings].
- Australian equities again outperform [Financials outperform amid rise in 10-yr UST yield; Resources index also gains (Western Areas rose after production update)].
- Hang Seng rises after the lower open [TECH index rebounded (Tencent pared drop amid stake sale)].
- Shanghai Composite rebounded from opening loss [Consumer Staples index reversed decline; Telecom and Property indices underperformed].
- Companies expected to report during the NY morning include ConAgra Brands, Constellation Brands.
Headlines/Economic Data
Australia/New Zealand
- ASX 200 opened +0.2%.
- WBC.AU ASIC commences civil proceedings in relation to the sale of consumer credit insurance.
- (AU) Australia Trade Min Tehan: Will protect interests against any country (talking about China warning of joining sanctions on officials).
Japan
- Nikkei 225 opened -0.2%.
- (JP) Japan Chief Cabinet Sec Kato: Untrue that Japan is considering vaccinating Olympic Athletes.
- 5486.JP Hitachi Ltd. reportedly in talks with Bain about potential sale of its metals division – Nikkei.
- (JP) Japan Feb Current Account: ¥2.92T v ¥2.00Te; Adj Current Account: ¥1.79T v ¥1.02Te; Trade Balance (BoP): ¥524.2B v -¥130.1B prior.
- (JP) Japan MoF sells ¥2.5T v ¥2.5T indicated in 0.10% 5-year JGBs; avg yield -0.0910% v -0.062% prior, bid to cover 4.55x v 3.25x prior (highest btc since Oct 2020).
- 096530.KR Planning 1 for 1 issue of bonus shares.
Korea
- Kospi opened 0.0%.
- (KR) South Korea Fin Min: Anti-speculation measures will increase – Yonhap.
- (KR) South Korea ruling Democratic party was defeated in special mayoral elections in Seoul and Busan – financial press.
China/Hong Kong
- Hang Seng opened -0.3%; Shanghai Composite opened -0.4%.
- (CN) China PBOC warns that a boom in household debt could hinder the economy – Chinese press.
- (HK) Hong Kong Mar PMI (Whole Economy): 50.5 v 50.2 prior (3-year high).
- (CN) China PBOC sets Yuan reference rate: 6.5463 v 6.5384 prior.
- (CN) China PBOC Open Market Operation (OMO): Injects CNY10B in 7-day reverse repos v CNY10B in 7-day reverse repos prior; Net CNY0B v CNY0B prior.
- (CN) China Mar Vehicle Sales 2.38M units, +66.8% y/y – CAAM.
- (CN) CHINA MAR FOREIGN RESERVES: $3.170T V $3.178TE (3rd straight monthly decline and lowest since Oct).
North America
- JNJ Mass vaccination site in Denver, Colorado using JNJ Coronavirus vaccines was shut down temporarily due to 18 recipients having unspecified adverse side affects – Press.
- (US) US govt completes intelligence review of alleged Russian misconduct in SolarWinds hack and election interference; may announce retaliatory actions against Russia in the near future – press.
- AMZN Union Vote in Alabama has ~55% voter turnout, final count expected later April 8th or early the 9th – Press.
Europe
- (DK) Greenland Elections Results: Opposition Socials Party IA posed to win election (opposes mining project lead by GGG.AU).
- (DE) Germany vaccine authority, STIKO, and national health authority, RKI, looking at whether to further stretch the amount of time before second doses of Covid vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna – German press.
- (UK) Britain reportedly expected to pass COVID herd immunity threshold on Monday – UK’s Telegraph.
- (UK) Mar RICS House Price Balance: 59 v 55e.
Levels as of 01:15ET
- Hang Seng +1.0%; Shanghai Composite +0.1%; Kospi -0.0%; Nikkei225 -0.3%; ASX 200 +0.9%.
- Equity Futures: S&P500 +0.5%; Nasdaq100 +0.7%, Dax +0.1%; FTSE100 +0.3%.
- EUR 1.1875-1.1861; JPY 109.91-109.66; AUD 0.7634-0.7603; NZD 0.7029-0.7004.
- Commodity Futures: Gold -0.1% at $1,740/oz; Crude Oil -0.6% at $59.43/brl; Copper +0.4% at $4.08/lb.
