China flash manufacturing PMI rises for the 5th month to 2-year highs

Asian Market Update: Apple down 10% afterhours; China flash manufacturing PMI rises for the 5th month to 2-year highs

Economic Data

- (CN) CHINA JAN HSBC FLASH MANUFACTURING PMI: 51.9 V 51.7E (22-month high, 5th consecutive increase)

- (JP) JAPAN DEC MERCHANDISE TRADE BALANCE TOTAL: -¥641.5B V -¥522.8BE; ADJUSTED MERCHANDISE TRADE BALANCE: -¥800.7B V -¥760.9BE

- (KR) SOUTH KOREA Q4 PRELIM GDP Q/Q: 0.4% V 0.5%E; Y/Y: 1.5% V 1.8%E

- (NZ) NEW ZEALAND DEC BUSINESS NZ PMI: 50.1 V 48.8 PRIOR

- (NZ) NEW ZEALAND DEC CREDIT CARD SPENDING M/M: 1.0% V 0.4% PRIOR; Y/Y: 4.6% V 3.9% PRIOR (6-month high)

Markets Snapshot (as of 05:00 GMT)

- Nikkei225 +0.9%

- S&P/ASX +0.5%

- Kospi -0.6%

- Shanghai Composite -0.1%

- Hang Seng -0.2%

- Mar S&P500 -0.4% at 1,484

- Feb gold -0.3% at $1,682/oz

- Mar Crude Oil +0.3% at $95.57/brl

Notes/Observations

- Asian equity markets teetered between gains and losses as notable developments from US, China, Japan, and Korea swayed sentiment. Disappointing Q4 results from Apple was clearly the "800lb gorilla" event, weighing on tech-heavy indices in the Asia-Pac. AAPL beat on EPS but missed on the top-line and issued a very disappointing Q2 Rev guidance. Netflix is a surprising high-flier, rising over 30% on a very strong rise in net streaming subscription additions. Sandisk beat on top and bottom lines, but cautious guidance sent the stock lower over 3% afterhours.

- China Jan flash manufacturing PMI was the bright spot, hitting a 2-year high while also rising for the 5th consecutive month on sequential basis. The data sent Shanghai Composite to fresh 7-month highs above 2,350 before profit-taking set in late in the day.

- Japan reported another December merchandise trade deficit that was wider than expected. Exports to China and Europe were particularly disappointing at -15.8% and -11% for the 7th and 15th consecutive decline respectively. For the year, Japan's trade deficit with China widened to ¥3.52T, a record high.

- On the Korean peninsula, saber-rattling from the North hit a higher pitch in response to the latest round of sanctions of its satellite program. Most notably, KCNA said North Korea is looking to hold another nuclear test "aimed" at the US. Separately, Hyundai Motors disappointed on Q4 earnings, as sales in the local markets slumped 2.2% in 2012 and are projected to show an even larger decline of 3.2% this year.

Currencies/Fixed Income/Commodities

- GLD: SPDR Gold Trust ETF daily holdings fall by 1.8 tons to 1,334.1 tons

- (CN) Platts analysts see crude oil demand in China having peaked - financial press (update)

- (US) API PETROLEUM INVENTORIES CRUDE: +3.16M V +2.5ME (3rd consecutive and largest build since Dec 11th); GASOLINE: -1.57M V +1.5ME; DISTILLATE: +1.28M V -0.5ME; UTILIZATION: 84.3% V 88.0% W/W

- (JP) Japan's MoF sells ¥1.1T 20-yr 1.7% JGBs; Avg yield: 1.750% v 1.737% prior; bid-to-cover: 3.10x v 3.11x prior

Speakers/Political/In the Papers

- (JP) Japan MoF official Nakao: Japan is carefully monitoring recent rise in the JPY; to take appropriate action if required - financial press

- (TW) Premier Chen asks central bank to monitor yen weakening - financial press

- (CN) China may announce details to qualified domestic institutional investors (QDII) rules in May - Chinese press

- (CN) Beijing to tighten emission standards in Feb - financial press

- (CN) China to increase minimum purchase price for wheat, rice - Chinese press

- (AU) Australia Treasurer Swan: Australia not immune to global economic events - financial press

Equities

- Hyundai Motor 005380.KR: Reports Q4 Net KRW1.9T v KRW2.0Te, Op profit KRW1.8T v KRW2.2Te, Rev KRW22.7T v KRW22.1Te; -4% after earnings

- Samsung Electronics 005930.KR: May sell 10M units of Galaxy S4 per month

- Toshiba 6502.JP: In talks with GE to form JV for development and sale of fossil fuel equipment - Japan Press

- FMG.AU: Reports Q2 Iron Ore production 16.7MT v 16.1MT q/q; Guides FY13 output 155MT.

- OZL.AU: Reports Q4 total copper production at 23.3k tons v 25.7k q/q, gold production 32.3K oz v 31.1K q/q

- NCM.AU: Reports Q2 gold production 492.9K oz v 460.4k q/q v 579.1K y/y, copper 19.9K tons v 18.6k q/q v 18.2k y/y

- NFLX: Reports Q4 +$0.13 v -$0.12e, R$945M v $935Me; Domestic streaming net adds 2.05M v 1.16M q/q; +35% afterhours

- AAPL: Reports Q1 $13.81 v $13.44e, R$54.5B v $54.8Be; Guides Q2 Rev $41-43B v $46.5Be; -10% afterhours

- WDC: Reports Q2 $2.09 v $1.82e, R$3.8B v $3.68Be; -1.4% afterhours

- ALTR: Reports Q4 $0.37 v $0.39e, R$439.4M v $451Me; -6.2% afterhours

- SNDK: Reports Q4 $1.05 v $0.73e, R$1.54B v $1.52Be; Guides Q1 Rev $1.225-1.30B v $1.38Be; FY13 $5.3-5.6B v $6.0Be - conf call; -3.7% afterhours

- AMGN: Reports Q4 $1.40 (adj) v $1.44e, R$4.42B v $4.36Be; -0.3% afterhours