Moody's raised India's sovereign outlook

Asian Mid-session Update: Bank of Korea left benchmark interest rate unchanged; Moody's raised India's sovereign outlook

Economic Data

- (AU) AUSTRALIA MAR AIG PERFORMANCE OF CONSTRUCTION INDEX: 50.1 V 43.9 PRIOR (1st expansion in 5 months)

- (IN) Moody's raises India outlook to positive from stable; reaffirms Baa3 sovereign rating

- (KR) BANK OF KOREA (BOK) LEAVES 7-DAY REPO RATE AT 1.75% (AS EXPECTED)

- (JP) Japan Mar Tokyo Average Office Vacancies: 5.3% v 5.3% prior

Index Snapshot (as of 02:30 GMT)

- Nikkei225 +0.6%, S&P/ASX -0.4%, Kospi flat, Shanghai Composite -1.2%, Hang Seng +3.6%, Jun S&P500 flat at 2,075

Commodities/Fixed Income

- Jun gold -0.5% at $1,198/oz, May crude oil +1.3% at $51.09/brl, May copper -0.1% at $2.73/lb

- (JP) Japan investors sold net ¥3.0T in foreign bonds v bought ¥1.0T in prior week; Foreign investors bought net ¥1.0T in Japan stocks v sold ¥34.4B in prior week

- (AU) Australia sells A$500M in notes due Aug 7th; Avg yield: 1.9947%; Bid-to-cover: 3.24x

- (CN) PBoC to inject CNY15B in 7-day reverse repos (13th consecutive injection); Drains net CNY15B this week v injected CNY5B prior (1st drain after 2 weeks of injection)

- JGB: (JP) Japan MoF sells ¥B in 1.5% (1.5% prior) 30-yr bonds; Avg yield: 1.3750% v 1.510% prior; Bid to cover: 2.86x v 3.67x prior

Market Focal Points/FX

- Asia experienced a volatile session today. Shanghai Composite opened above 4,000 level for the first time in 7 years, but then traded sharply lower, finished morning session down by 1.2%. Hong Kong Hang Seng Index continued its fascinating momentum in early session, as the index once traded higher by as much as 8%, and then pared gains to around 27,200 level. US Dollar was generally stronger today in Asia session, following the latest Fed minutes. Reaction was perceived somewhat hawkish after the statement, as several members expressed support for rate liftoff in June. EUR/USD traded around 1.0780 level, after briefly dipping below 1.0760. USD/JPY remained relatively strong during Asia session, held around 120.30 level.

- China Premier Li confirmed that China will cut iron-ore resources tax to help the real economy. Resources stocks in Australia are being hit hard early on fears that Chinese authorities will keep uneconomic iron ore miners afloat, while energy names have fallen sharply in line with the reversal in the oil price overnight. BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto traded lower by about 1%, while shares of Fortescue were down by over 3%.

- As expected, the Bank of Korea maintained interest rates at its decision. However, one dissenter at the Korea central bank proposed a rate cut. Bank of Korea also cut 2015 GDP growth forecast to 3.1% from previously forecasted 3.4%, and cut 2015 inflation forecast to 0.9% from 1.9%. Korean equity and fx markets remained little changed after the rate decision.

- In South Asia, Moody's raised India's outlook to Positive from Stable, and reaffirmed Baa3 sovereign rating. Moody's cited increasing probability that India's policies will enhance economic and financial strength over the coming years. Just a brief reminder, Moody's move came after S&P raised India's Outlook to Stable from Negative, and affirmed BBB- rating.

Equities

US equities/ADRs:

- S: Delivers Expanded Connectivity with Free Wi-Fi Calling to Millions of iPhone Customers; +0.8% afterhours

- APA: Agrees to sell Australia operations for $2.1B to a consortium of private equity funds managed by Macquarie Capital Group Limited and Brookfield Asset Management Inc.; +0.3% afterhours

- BIIB: Patient taking Tecfidera for psoriasis developed PML, despite not having severe Lymphocytopenia; the patient died last August - NEJM; -0.4% afterhours

- BBBY: Reports Q4 $1.80 v $1.81e, R$3.34B v $3.37Be; -3.2% afterhours

- AA: Reports Q1 $0.28 v $0.26e, R$5.82B v $5.85Be; -3.2% afterhours

- COST: Reports March US SSS ex gas +4%

Notable movers by sector:

- Consumer Discretionary: SAIC Corp 600104.CN -2.7% (Mar sales results); FamilyMart 8028.JP +5.2% (FY14/15 results)

- Financials: Western Securities 002673.CN +8.1% (Mar op results); Guosen Securities 002736.CN +7.7% (Mar op results); Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing 388.HK +7.7% (Chairman comments on stock connect quota); Fantasia Holdings Group 1777.HK +12.2% (Mar sales results); Shui On Land 272.HK +3.5% (Mar sales results); Evergrande Real Estate 3333.HK +2.0% (Mar sales results); GF Securities 000776.CN +3.2% (Mar Op results)

- Materials: BC Iron BCI.AU +7.3% (Mar quarter shipments); BHP Billiton BHP.AU -1.3%, Rio Tinto RIO.AU -0.8%, Fortescue FMG.AU -3.5% (China to cut iron-ore resource tax)

- Energy: China Longyuan Power Group 916.HK +8.8% (Mar sales results)

- Industrials: Geely Automobile Holdings 175.HK +2.4% (Mar sales results)

- Technology: GungHo Online Entertainment 3765.JP -5.0% (press speculation on Q1 results)