China services PMI climbs to 4-month high; NZD weighted down by unemployment data

Economic Data

(HK) HONG KONG APR HSBC PMI: 48.6 V 49.6 PRIOR; 2nd month of contraction and lowest since Oct 2014

*(CN) CHINA APR HSBC SERVICES PMI: 52.9 V 52.3 PRIOR; 4-month high

*(AU) AUSTRALIA MAR RETAIL SALES M/M: 0.3% V 0.4%E (3-month low)

*(AU) AUSTRALIA MAR HIA NEW HOME SALES M/M: 4.4% V 1.1% PRIOR; 13-month high (CO) Colombia Apr CPI M/M: 0.5% v 0.4%e, Y/Y: 4.6% v 4.4%e

*(UK) UK APR BRC SHOP PRICE INDEX Y/Y: -1.9% V -1.7%E

*(NZ) NEW ZEALAND Q1 EMPLOYMENT CHANGE Q/Q: 0.7% (3-quarter low) V 0.8%E; Y/Y: 3.2% V 3.3%E

*(NZ) NEW ZEALAND Q1 UNEMPLOYMENT RATE: 5.8% (1-year high) V 5.5%E; PARTICIPATION RATE 69.6% V 69.4%E

Index Snapshot (as of 02:30 GMT)

- Nikkei225 closed, S&P/ASX -1.6%, Kospi -1.1%, Shanghai Composite +0.8%, Hang Seng +0.6%, Jun S&P500 +0.2% at 2,087

Commodities/Fixed Income

- Jun gold +0.1% at $1,194/oz, Jun crude oil +0.8% at $60.88/brl, May copper -0.3% at $2.93/lb

- (CN) PBoC gauges demand for 7-day, 14-day reverse repos, 28-day repos and 91-day bill sales

- USD/CNY: PBoC sets yuan mid point at 6.1156 v 6.1180 prior

- USD/KRW: Onshore opens at KRW1,081 v KRW1,079 prior close

- (HK) Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) sells HK$1.5B in 10-year government bonds, bid to cover 3.07X

Market Focal Points/FX

- Asia equity indices are mostly in red following Wall St selloff. NZD/USD becomes most notable mover in FX space, falling some 50pips below $0.7500 as New Zealand posted its 1-year high unemployment rate 5.8% beating consensus of 5.5% and employment change on quarter falls into 3-quarter low. However, labor force participation rate reached all-time high of 69.6%.

- Australian total value of retail sales was up 0.3% on month in March, missing an increase of 0.4% and down from 0.7% rise in prior month. Moreover, Australian new home sales climbed notably to reach highest level in 4 years. AUD/USD continued its upward trend after the data and RBA rate decision.

- Despite Shanghai and Hang Seng both reversed prior loss, economic data was mixed. China HSBC services PMI hit a 4-month high. HSBC chief economist noted China service sector companies had a strong start to Q2 but more measures may be required to ensure the economy does not slow further from the 7% annual pace of growth registered in Q1. On the contract, Hong Kong PMI continued second contraction and fell to 7-month low. HSBC economist stated Hong Kong's private sector saw a stronger deterioration in overall business conditions and likely to struggle to expand in Q2.

Equities

US equities/ADRs:

- EA: Reports Q4 $0.00 v $0.25e, R$640M v $839Me; Raises FY guidance, authorizes $1.0B share buyback (5.4% of market cap); -0.3% afterhours

- FTR: Reports Q1 $0.02 v $0.05e, R$1.37B v $1.40Be; -1.9% afterhours

- BRDR: Pitney Bowes acquires Borderfree for $14.00/shr cash in $395M deal; +5.0% afterhours

- PAA: Reports Q1 $0.35 v $0.56e, R$5.94B v $10.2Be (unclear if comp); +1.3% afterhours

- MYL: Reports Q1 $0.70 v $0.70e, R$1.87B v $2.06Be; Affirms FY guidance; -0.2% afterhours

- CTL: Reports Q1 $0.67 v $0.59e, R$4.45B v $4.48Be; -1.4% afterhours

- PXD: Reports Q1 -$0.03 v $0.06e, R$868M v $725Me; -3.1% afterhours

- ALL: Reports Q1 $1.46 v $1.39e, R$8.95B v $7.77Be; +0.3% afterhours

- CYH: Reports Q1 $0.85 v $0.68e, R$4.91B v $5.02Be; -3.6% afterhours

- DVN: Reports Q1 $0.22 v $0.26e, R$3.27B v $3.86Be; Raises production outlook

- MGI: Reportedly Western Union is in preliminary talks to acquire Moneygram - financial press; -3.1% afterhours

- GRPN: Reports Q1 -$0.02 v $0.02e, R$750M v $800Me; -2.8% afterhours

- AGU: Reports Q1 $0.12 v $0.34e (not comparable), R$2.87B v $3.18Be; -0.9% afterhours

Notable movers by sector:

- Consumer discretionary: Dongfeng Motor 489.HK +1.3% (clarification on merger); Wanda Cinema 002739.CN +9.2% (Apr results)

- Consumer staples: Woolworths WOW.AU -4.2% (Q3 results, cuts jobs)

- Financials: Commonwealth Bank of Australia CBA.AU -4.4% (Q3 results); QBE Insurance Group QBE.AU +1.3% (reaffirms guidance); Shimao Property 813.HK -1.3% (April results); Sunac China 1918.HK +2.3% (Apr results); GPT Group GPT.AU -1.7% (Q1 results)

- Industrials: Boral BLD.AU -1.1% (reaffirms guidance); Air China 601111.CN -0.5%, China Southern Airlines 600029.CN -0.8% (oil price surges)

- Telecom: TPG Telecom TPM.AU +3.9% (Iinet recommends its improved proposal)

- Materials: Glencore 805.HK -0.9% (Q1 production)

- Healthcare: Yunnan Baiyao Group 000538.CN +2.6% (China to lift price control on drugs)