Reports » Asia

Asian stock market, economy and companies update (January 21, 2013)

Contributed by Trade The News

***Markets Snapshot (as of 05:30 GMT)***
- Nikkei225 -1.1%
- S&P/ASX +0.1%
- Kospi -0.1%
- Shanghai Composite +0.2%
- Hang Seng -0.1%
- Mar S&P500 +0.1% at 1,480
- Feb gold +0.2% at $1,690/oz
- Mar Crude Oil -0.5% at $95.58/brl

***Notes/Observations***
- Asian equity markets are trading mixed and sideways in US holiday-thinned opening session, even as Nikkei225 resurfaced as the underperformer. Ahead of tomorrow's BOJ rate decision, USD/JPY briefly hit 31-month highs above ¥90.20 but reversed those gains to trade below ¥89.50. Investors are increasingly concerned that the BOJ revision to a goal of 2% inflation has been priced into the markets, while Econ Min Amari suggested there is still some room for negotiation between cabinet officials and the BOJ before they can iron out a joint statement. On the geopolitical front, Senkaku-driven saber-rattling was more audible after US State Sec Clinton called on China not to undertake any "unilateral action" that would undermine Japan - sentiment that met with contempt from China Foreign Ministry spokesman.

- In Europe, German Chancellor Merkel's coalition suffered a surprising blow with a 1-seat defeat in the state of Lower Saxony. The election was billed as a blueprint for the national elections in September of this year. In terms of Greece, Troika was reported to have agreed to a 6-month moratorium on any additional austerity measures, while Cyprus Central Bank said it was late in concluding a study on the impact of the Greek banking crisis.

***Currencies/Fixed Income/Commodities***
- (AU) Australia Newcastle weekly coal exports for week ended Jan 14th: -10.0% w/w
- USD/JPY: Extending gains above ¥90.20; Fresh 31-month high

***Speakers/Political/In the Papers***
- (DE) Chancellor Merkel's CDU/FDP coalition loses State elections for Lower Saxony to Social Democrtas/Greens by 1 seat
- (GR) Greece creditors, the Troika, have agreed to a 6-month moratorium on any additional austerity measures - ekathimerini
- (EU) ECB's Weidmann (Germany) warns 'wrong and dangerous' to rely on ECB to resolve crisis - financial press
- (UK) Britain is approaching a triple dip recession - Times
- (CY) Cyprus Central Bank: Due diligence review to determine the impact on the banking system from Greece that was due on Jan 18th is yet to be finalized

- (CN) Difficulty and high cost of obtaining a license plate in Shanghai is forcing many drivers to purchase it before the car - China Daily
- (CN) Price of pork in China is up about 10% in 2 months - China Daily
- (CN) China Bank of Communications (BoCom) analyst: Sees 2013 GDP around 8.5% - Chinese press
- (CN) Beijing Municipal Air Pollution Control Regulation draft proposes to lower the number of vehicles allowed to be on the road on days with particularly dangerous air quality - Shanghai Daily
- (CN) According to CASS researcher Li Yang, China's 2013 fiscal revenue growth may be below 10% seen in 2012 - Chinese press

- (HK) Hong Kong Chief Exec Leung: May impose a vacancy tax on unsold properties to prevent hoarding of inventory by developers - HK press

- (AU) Australia Treasurer Swan: Agrees not to implement "savage" cuts to public spending in order to achieve budget surplus in the election year - financial press

- (KR) Bank of Korea (BOK): Liquidity at Korean savings banks is at a 5-year low amid soft deposits and large proportion of non-performing loans - Korean press

- (JP) Japan Econ Min Amari: Gap between the govt and the BOJ on the joint statement is narrowing - Nikkei News
- (JP) Joint BOJ/govt policy statement may call on the BOJ governor to make quarterly progress reports toward achievement of 2% inflation target - Nikkei News
- (JP) Size of Japan's main budget may top ¥93T in FY13/14; 7th consecutive year of expansion - Nikkei News
- (JP) Japan PM Abe's Economic Adviser Hamada: BOJ will need to slow monetary easing if effects on prices/yen go too far

- (JP) Three Chinese govt ships said to have entered Japan's territorial waters near the disputed Senkaku islands on Saturday - financial press
- (JP) US State Sec Clinton: Japan's PM Abe to visit US in February; Would oppose any "unilateral action" undermining Japan - financial press
- (CN) China Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang: "strongly dissatisfied with and resolutely opposes" comments made by US State Sec Clinton warning against unilateral actions on disputed Senkaku islands

***Equities***
- Hyundai Heavy 009540.KR: Targeting $29.7B in shipbuilding orders for 2013, +52.3% from 2012 - Korean press
- 009540.KR: Awarded $1.1B order from Statoil ASA - financial press

- Gome 493.HK: To close all electrical retailers in Hong Kong; 100 jobs at risk - Chinese press
- ZTE 763.HK: Guides FY12 Net loss CNY2.5-2.9B v profit CNY2.1B in 2011
- Huawei: 002502.CN: Exec: Keeping an open mind to any future IPO plans; decision to IPO will come down to legalities

- GS Yuasa 6674.JP: Japan Ministry of Transport to launch joint investigation with FAA into Boeing 787 battery maker
- Toshiba 6502.JP: Considering a bid for uranium enrichment firm Urenco, owned by govts of UK and Netherlands as well as RWD and E.ON - UK press

- Fraser and Neave FRNM.SG: Thailand's richest man Sirivadhanabhakdi raises bid to S$9.55/shr from S$8.88/shr valuing company at S$11.2B
- QBE.AU: Plans to pursue $200M in cost cutting measures; 700 jobs at risk - AFR
- NAB.AU: Santander considering possible £2B bid for Clydesdale, Yorkshire unit - Times

- CAT: To take $580M non-cash charge in Q4 due to Accounting Misconduct at Siwei in Zhengzhou, China (update)
- BA: Suspending deliveries of new 787 Dreamliner jet until a battery problem is resolved; To continue manufacturing the aircraft - financial press citing spokesperson (update)

***Economic Data***
- (JP) JAPAN DEC FINAL MACHINE TOOL ORDERS Y/Y: -27.5% V -27.5% PRELIM
- (UK) UK JAN RIGHTMOVE HOUSE PRICES M/M: +0.2% V -3.3% PRIOR (first rise in three months); Y/Y: 2.4% V 1.4% PRIOR