Asian equities track US gains

Asia Market Update: Asian equities track US gains; Trump said talks with China went ‘very well’, plans to meet with China Vice Premier on Friday at 14:45 ET (18:45 GMT); Press speculates about ‘mini’ trade deal

General Trend:

- Earlier on Thursday, Trump did not answer and walked away when asked by reporters whether he was prepared to accept a 'smaller deal' with China (financial press)

- Tariffs on $250B of Chinese goods are scheduled to rise from 25% to 30% on Tuesday (Oct 15th). On Sept 11th, Trump announced he would delay the tariff increase to Oct 15th from Oct 1st.

- Hang Seng outperforms ahead of expected talks between Trump and Liu He

- Shanghai Composite lags in Asia despite reported trade optimism

- Japanese earnings movers in focus: Fast Retailing rises over 3%, Seven & I gains over 5%

- German tech firm SAP rises over 6% in US afterhours trading, affirmed outlooks and named Co-CEOs

- Asian government bond yields generally track Thursday’s rise in US Treasury yields

- Typhoon Hagibis is expected to hit eastern Japan (including Tokyo) during the upcoming weekend, typhoon could be worst to hit Tokyo since the late 1950s

- Singapore to issue semi-annual monetary policy statement and Q3 advance GDP on Monday (Oct 14th)

Headlines/Economic Data

Australia/New Zealand

- ASX 200 opened +0.6%

-(NZ) New Zealand Sept Business Manufacturing PMI: 48.4 v 48.4 prior (third straight month of contraction)

-(NZ) New Zealand Aug Total Card Spending M/M: 0.6% v 1.3% prior; Retail Card Spending M/M: 0.4% v 0.2%e

China/Hong Kong

-Shanghai Composite opened +0.2%, Hang Seng +1.1%

-(CN) China Vice Premier Liu told US business leaders yesterday that China is willing to reach agreement on matters that both sides care about and to prevent friction from further escalation – press

Japan

-Nikkei 225 opened +0.9%

-(JP) Japan Sept M2 Money Supply Y/Y: 2.4% v 2.4%e; M3 Money Supply Y/Y: 2.0% v 2.0%e

-(JP) Bank of Japan Survey: 37% of households pushed forward purchases ahead of sales tax hike on Oct 1; 70% say they plan to withhold spending

Korea

- Kospi opened +1%

-(KR) South Korea Oct 1-10 Exports y/y: -8.5%; Chip Exports y/y: -27.2%

-(KR) South Korea sells KRW400B v KRW400B indicated in 50-year bonds: avg yield 1.50% v 1.395% prior

North America

-(US) Fed's Mester (hawk, non-voter): expects the US economy will avoid a more serious turndown; recent readings on inflation expectations are mixed

-(US) Fed's Kashkari (dove; non-voter): wrong to call planned balance sheet growth QE; case for half-percentage point (50bps) rate cut has waned

Europe

-(UK) UK set to propose 'pared-down' free trade agreement to end Brexit stalemate by end of Oct - Sky News

-(IE) UK's Northern Ireland Min: developments today are really, really positive; seem to be on track to coming toward an accommodation

-(IR) Iran tanker said to be on fire near Saudi port of Jeddah; oil is spilling into Red Sea - Iran Press

Levels as of 1:20 ET

- Nikkei 225, +1.2%, ASX 200 +0.9%, Hang Seng +2.5%; Shanghai Composite +0.5%; Kospi+1.2%

- Equity Futures: S&P500 +0.5%; Nasdaq100 +0.6%, Dax +0.2%

- EUR 1.1019-1.1003 ; JPY 108.13-107.84 ; AUD 0.6782-0.6752 ;NZD 0.6331-0.6316

- Gold -0.1% at $1,499/oz; Crude Oil +0.6% at $53.86/brl; Copper flat at $2.614/lb