Australia trimmed CPI in range, diminishing outlook for rate cut

Asian Mid-session Update: Australia trimmed CPI in range, diminishing outlook for rate cut; MAS lowers inflation target in intermeeting move

Economic Data

- (AU) AUSTRALIA Q4 CONSUMER PRICES (CPI) Q/Q: 0.2% (2-year low) V 0.3%E; Y/Y: 1.7% (2 1/2-year low) V 1.8%E; TRIMMED MEAN Q/Q: 0.7% V 0.5%E ; Y/Y: 2.2% (2 1/2 year low) V 2.2%E

- (AU) AUSTRALIA NOV SKILLED VACANCIES M/M: -1.0% V -0.7% PRIOR

- (AU) AUSTRALIA DEC WESTPAC LEADING INDEX M/M: 0.0% V -0.1% PRIOR

- (AU) Australia ANZ Roy Morgan Weekly Consumer Confidence Index: 113.2 v 113.6 prior

- (CN) China Jan Westpac Consumer Confidence index: 112.1 v 112.5 prior

Index Snapshot (as of 03:30 GMT)

- Nikkei225 +0.1%, S&P/ASX flat, Kospi +0.1%, Shanghai Composite -0.8%, Hang Seng +0.3%, Mar S&P500 +0.7% at 2,044

Commodities/Fixed Income

- Feb gold -0.2% at $1,289, Mar crude oil -1.6% at $45.47/brl, Mar copper +0.8% at $2.47/lb

- (US) API PETROLEUM INVENTORIES: CRUDE: +12.7M (multi-year high build) v +4Me, GASOLINE: -5M v +0.5Me, DISTILLATE: -0.67M v -1.5Me

- GLD: SPDR Gold Trust ETF daily holdings rise 9.3 tonnes to 752.7 tonnes; highest since Oct 16th

- (JP) BOJ offers to buy ¥400B in 1-3yr JGBs, ¥400B in 3-5yr JGBs, and ¥400B in 5-10yr JGBs

- (CN) China Finance Ministry (MoF) sells 10-yr bonds at 3.4205%

Market Focal Points/FX

- Australian dollar - one of the biggest victims to the 7-month-old USD advance - got some temporary relief from today's quarterly inflation figures. With the case for renewed RBA easing as early as next meeting in early February, the trimmed mean (core) levels held above the 2% floor of the central bank's target range, even though the headline CPI fell to new 2-year lows. ABS noted that most most significant price rises this quarter were for domestic holiday travel and accommodation, while fuel and electronics showed predictable outsized declines. A research note from CommSec said "It is pretty clear that inflation is not a threat to the domestic economy, meaning that the Reserve Bank can comfortably keep interest rates at exceptionally low levels over the medium term." Separately in Australia, Westpac leading index registered a flat December, as resident researcher noted "Australian economy looks set to continue recording below trend growth well into 2015." Skilled vacancies fell further, potentially signalling a slightly tighter labor market. AUD/USD rose nearly 100pips in the wake of the CPI figures, briefly testing the $0.80 mark.

- Singapore Central Bank joined the currency wars of the emerging world with an intermeeting policy easing of its own. In the first unscheduled announcement in 13 years, MAS cut 2015 headline CPI forecasts to -0.5% to +0.5% from 0.5-1.5% prior and core inflation 0.5-1.5% from 2.0-3.0% prior, while also lowering the slope of SGD policy band. MAS noted measured adjustment was consistent with the unfolding inflation trends and was appropriate for mid-term price stability, but also maintained 2015 GDP forecast at 2-4%. USD/SGD spiked up over 150pips above $1.35 - the lowest SGD levels since Aug 2010, simultaneously breaking the downtrend going back to early 2002.

- In Japan, the Cabinet Office maintained its economic assessment for the 4th consecutive month, reiterating the economy is continuing gradual recovery. PM Abe pledged to conduct reform to address a "very severe" fiscal situation. USD/JPY remained in consolidation mode with 7th consecutive session of alternating between advances and declines. Traders are now focused on Wednesday FOMC policy decision and any changes to the "patient" catchphrase in the Fed statement.

Equities

US markets:

- FSL: Reports Q4 $0.42 v $0.33e, R$1.10B v $1.14Be; +12.0% afterhours

- X: Reports Q4 $1.82 (adj) v $0.89e, R$4.07B v $3.96Be; +8.8% afterhours

- YHOO: Reports Q4 $0.30 v $0.29e, R$1.18B v $1.18Be; Confirms plans for tax-free spin-off of the remaining stake in Alibaba; Announces Plan for Tax-Free Spin-Off of Remaining Stake in Alibaba Group, as expected; +6.7% afterhours

- AAPL: Reports Q1 $3.06 v $2.60e, R$74.6B v $67.5Be; +5.7% afterhours

- JNPR: Reports Q4 $0.41 v $0.31e, R$1.10B v $1.07Be; +5.2% afterhours

- EA: Reports Q3 $1.22 v $0.92e, R$1.43B v $1.29Be; +4.3% afterhours

- WDC: Reports Q2 $2.26 v $2.10e, R$3.89B v $3.83Be; +3.5% afterhours

- CNI: Reports Q4 C$1.03 v C$0.97e, RC$3.21B; Boosts quarterly dividend 25% to C$0.3125 from $0.25/share; +3.2% afterhours

- VMW: Reports Q4 $1.08 v $1.06e, R$1.70B v $1.69Be; Board approves additional $1B share buyback (approx 2.8% of market cap); +2.3% afterhours

- T: Reports Q4 $0.55 v $0.55e, R$34.4B v $34.3Be; +1.4% afterhours

- ACE: Reports Q3 $2.47 v $2.28e, R$5.75B v $4.52Be; +0.4% afterhours

- AMGN: Reports Q4 $2.16 v $2.05e, R$5.17B v $5.19Be; +0.3% afterhours

- INFA: Reports Q4 $0.56 v $0.51e, R$303.7M v $296Me; announces $500M share repurchase program (10.7% of market cap); +0.1% afterhours

- ILMN: Reports Q4 $1.03 v $0.78e, R$512.4M v $504Me; -0.3% afterhours

- SYK: Reports final Q4 $1.44 v $1.46e, R$2.62B v $2.62Be; -0.4% afterhours

Notable movers by sector:

- Consumer Discretionary: AP Eagers APE.AU +6.4% (prelim FY14 results)

- Materials: Hebei Iron & Steel 000709.CN +1.8% (FY14 guidance); OZ Minerals OZL.AU +4.2% (Q4 production results); St Barbara SBM.AU +4.9% (FY15 production guidance)

- Energy: Karoon Gas Australia KAR.AU +4.9% (provides update); Drillsearch Energy DLS.AU +3.3% (Q2 production results)

- Technology: Dongxu Optoelectronic Technology 000413.CN +10.0% (proposes private placement); Hitachi High-Technologies 8036.JP -3.7% (9-month results); Sharp Corp 6753.JP +4.0% (to partner with Samsung on solar-powered batteries); Sony Corp 6758.JP +3.4% (to cut jobs); LG Display 034220.KR -1.1% (2014 results)

- Healthcare: M3 Inc 2413.JP +5.7% (9-month results)

- Utilities: Chugoku Electric Power 9504.JP +6.5% (FY14 guidance)