China industrial profits fall again

Asian Mid-session Update: Japan ex-sales tax CPI flatlines; China industrial profits fall again

Economic Data

- (CN) CHINA JAN-FEB INDUSTRIAL PROFITS Y/Y: -4.2% V -8.0% PRIOR

- (JP) JAPAN FEB NATIONAL CPI Y/Y: 2.2% V 2.3%E; CPI EX FRESH FOOD Y/Y: 2.0% (11-month low) V 2.1%E

- (JP) JAPAN MAR TOKYO CPI Y/Y: 2.3% V 2.3%E; CPI EX FRESH FOOD Y/Y: 2.2% V 2.2%E

- (JP) JAPAN FEB RETAIL SALES M/M: 0.7% V 0.9%E; RETAIL TRADE Y/Y: -1.8% (2nd consecutive decline) V -1.5%E

- (JP) JAPAN FEB OVERALL HOUSEHOLD SPENDING Y/Y: -2.9% V -3.2%E; 11TH MONTH OF DECLINE

- (JP) JAPAN FEB JOBLESS RATE: 3.5% V 3.5%E; JOB TO APPLICANT RATIO: 1.15 V 1.15E

Index Snapshot (as of 02:30 GMT)

- Nikkei225 +0.5%, S&P/ASX +0.5%, Kospi flat, Shanghai Composite -0.3%, Hang Seng -0.2%, Jun S&P500 +0.2% at 2,055

Commodities/Fixed Income

- Apr gold -0.2% at $1,201/oz, May crude oil -1.4% at $50.30/brl, May copper -0.8% at $2.78/lb

- GLD: SPDR Gold Trust ETF daily holdings fall 6.0 tonnes to 737.2 tonnes; Lowest since Jan 17th

- SLV: iShares Silver Trust ETF daily holdings fall to 10,074 tonnes from 10,118 tonnes prior; lowest since Feb 17th

- (JP) BOJ offers to buy ¥300B in 1-3yr JGBs, ¥350B in 3-5yr JGBs, ¥240B in 10-25yr JGBs and ¥140B in JGBs with maturity over 25-yr as well as ¥750B in T-Bills

- (US) Weekly Fed Balance Sheet Total Assets for week ending Mar 25th: $4.48T v $4.50T prior; M1 y/y change: 9.3% v 9.4% w/w; M2 y/y change: 6.1% v 6.1% w/w

Market Focal Points/FX

- Despite the rumored differences between Japan PM Abe and BOJ Gov Kuroda on the fiscal side, both have taken every opportunity to cheerlead progress made on tackling deflation. The latest CPI data could make that more challenging going forward. Nationwide CPI slowed to an 11-month low of 2.0% y/y, but when adjusted for April's consumption tax, that rate of CPI screeched to a halt of zero - the first time that prices failed to show y/y growth in nearly two years. Undeterred, PM Abe reiterated there was progress being made on exiting deflation while also promising to reach the goal of primary balance surplus by FY2020. Leading inflation figures in the Tokyo area were in line with consensus, but retail sales disappointed and household spending also continued to fall. USD/JPY still traded without much direction within a 40pip range above ¥119.

- AUD/USD was the biggest mover among the dollar majors in an otherwise quiet session ahead of Friday's final Q4 US GDP report. The aussie fell about 40pips below the $0.78 in the aftermath of another decline in China industrial profits. The dataset reflected Jan-Feb period, stripping away seasonality around the holiday period.
Economist with China stats bureau attributed the decline to lower prices, rising costs and significant profit declines in the oil and coal industries - some of Australia's key exports to China. Elsewhere, property developers saw some modest strength on a statement from Chinese Ministry of Land and Resources, calling on certain cities to halt new land supply and control the pace of construction.

- After a Yemen-conflict driven steep rally in oil markets yesterday, the retreat evident in US session continued during the Asian hours. May crude was down about a $1, as Goldman Sachs remarked that Saudi strikes on Yemen or any nuclear deal with Iran would only have negligible near-term impacts on oil (over)supply.

Equities

US equities/ADRs:

- OXM: Reports Q4 $1.08 v $1.04e, R$274.5M v $274Me; Raises quarterly dividend 19% to $0.25/shr; Announces sale of Ben Sherman business, terms not disclosed; +11.8% afterhours

- YHOO: Announces additional $2B share repurchase program (4.8% of market cap) - filing; +2.2% afterhours

- PBR: Chairman Guido Mantega to resign; Names Luciano Galvao Coutinho as new chairman - financial press; -0.4% afterhours

- RH: Reports Q4 $1.02 v $1.01e, R$582.7M v $582Me; -4.4% afterhours

- GME: Reports Q4 $3.15 v $2.18e, R$3.48B v $3.60Be; -5.8% afterhours

Notable movers by sector:

- Consumer Discretionary: Toray Industries 3402.JP +2.3% (press speculation on FY14/15 results); Panasonic Corporation 6752.JP +4.2% (M&A plan); Air China Ltd 753.HK -1.3% (FY14 results); Haier Electronics Group 1169.HK -2.7% (FY14 results)

- Financials: Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd 601398.CN -0.9% (FY14 results); Bank of Communications 601328.CN -0.8% (FY14 results); China Merchants Properties 000024.CN +4.1%, Poly Real Estate 600048.CN +1.9%, China Vanke 000002.CN +1.2% (China issues statement to limit housing construction and land supply)

- Materials: Mitsui Mining & Smelting 5706.JP +4.0% (FY14/15 guidance); Whitehaven Coal WHC.AU +1.7% (lending facility); BBMG Corp 2009.HK -2.1% (FY14 results)

- Energy: Shunfeng Photovoltaic International 1165.HK +3.8% (FY14 results)

- Technology: Mesoblast Ltd MSB.AU +2.5% (announces key patent in Japan)

- Healthcare: Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding 2607.HK -1.0% (FY14 results)