Economic Data
(JP) BANK OF JAPAN (BOJ) LEAVES TARGET RATE RANGE UNCHANGED BETWEEN 0.0% TO 0.10% AS EXPECTED; EXPANDS ASSET PURCHASE FUND BY ¥10.0T to ¥65.0T; SETS 1% INFLATION TARGET
(JP) JAPAN DEC FINAL INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION M/M: 3.8% V 4.0% PRELIM; Y/Y: -4.3% V -4.1% PRELIM; CAPACITY UTILIZATION M/M: 3.1% V -2.9% PRELIM
(NZ) NEW ZEALAND JAN REINZ HOUSE PRICE INDEX M/M: -1.4% V -0.1% PRIOR; Y/Y: 25.2% V 20.9% PRIOR
(AU) AUSTRALIA JAN NAB BUSINESS CONDITIONS: +2 V 0 PRIOR; CONFIDENCE: +4 V 3 PRIOR (7-month high)
(UK) UK JAN RICS HOUSE PRICE BALANCE: -16% V -17%E
(NZ) NEW ZEALAND JAN QV HOUSE PRICES Y/Y: 2.7% V 2.4% PRIOR (16-month high)
(NZ) NEW ZEALAND JAN FOOD PRICES M/M: 0.0% V 0.2% PRIOR (3-month low)
(CN) China Jan car sales -23.8% y/y v +26.7% prior
Markets Snapshot (as of 05:30GMT)
Nikkei225 +0.5%
S&P/ASX -0.9%
Kospi -0.2%
Taiwan Taiex -0.4%
Singapore Straits Times -0.1%
Shanghai Composite -0.7%
Hang Seng -0.1%
S&P Futures -0.3% at 1,345
April gold -0.4% at $1,718/oz
March Crude -0.3% at $100.57
Overview/Top Headlines
A negative tone was set for the equities markets today by Moody's action after the US close and right before the open of Australia on European sovereign ratings. The Greenback gained against the other majors as well as emerging market currencies, A$ fell 0.4% to $1.0669 while the NZ$ tested $0.8290. Moody's affirmed the EFSF. Austria, France and the UK had their AAA ratings affirmed, outlooks were cut to negative. This is the first ratings agency action on the UK, which makes it particularly notable. Moody's cut Italy by 1 notch to A2, Spain by 2 notches to A3 and Portugal one notch to Ba3 all outlook negative. In Eastern Europe Slovakia and Slovenia were both cut one notch to A2 with a negative outlook. Main drivers for the ratings action were uncertainty over EU prospects for reforms and fiscal and economic framework as well as increasingly weak macroeconomic prospects all which constrains the creditworthiness of all EU sovereigns to a varying degree. The EUR/USD fell to $1.3146 though the range for the session was about 50 pips.
Bank of Japan as expected left the target rate unchanged at 0.0-0.1%, they announced an unexpected expansion to their asset purchase program by ¥10.0T, bringing the total to ¥65.0T. The increase will be used for JGB buying, which is similar to October action. As Japanese press speculation the BoJ did set its first official inflation target of 1%. USD/JPY extended to a 2-week high above ¥77.80 before extending to session highs of ¥77.99. EUR/JPY tested above ¥102.60. BoJ action boosted the Nikkei225 to close at its highest level since Sept. The move also saw Hong Kong and Singapore creep into positive territory. In Australia BHP and Rio Tinto fell after announce a huge expansion in Escondida copper mine in Chile. Uranium miner Paladin had a wider y/y loss in H1 results despite strong production numbers.
Speakers/Geopolitical/In the press
(US) Fed's Williams: Vital to keep monetary policy throttle wide open; Need to lower unemployment and return inflation to 2.0% quickly to minimize the damage to the economy
(CN) China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) may relax new capital adequacy requirements expected to take place in 2012 to ease the balance sheet pressure - Chinese press
(CN) Former PBOC Deputy Gov: China will not boost loans and debt in order to cure economic issues - Shanghai Securities News
(AU) RBA Assist Gov Debelle: Next LTRO plan may ease sovereign pressure; Market uncertainty to remain for some time
(NZ) New Zealand Dep Fin Min Joyce: Strong NZ$ is presenting a challenge but exports continue to grow
Equities
Tepco, 9501.JP: Govt is threatening to withhold ¥1.0T in aide unless Tepco allows itself to be nationalized - Japanese press
DBS.SG: China unit to increase staff in China by 25% or 2,000 people in 2012
BHP: Reports a major reserve increase of 17% at Escondida and increase in investment; approves $2.6B increase in Escondida investment - financial press
US Equities
NSIT: Reports Q4 $0.78 (incl benefit) v $0.49e, R$1.36B v $1.4Be; +14.1% after hours
USTR: Reports Q4 $0.64(adj) v $0.63e, R$1.20B v $1.2Be
RAX: Reports Q4 $0.18 v $0.15e, R$283M v $281Me; names Karl Pichloer as new CFO; +6.9% after hours
LPS: Reports Q4 $0.72 v $0.58e, R$534M v $518Me; -1.2% after hours
FIS: Reports Q4 $0.66 (adj) v $0.65e, R$1.5B v $1.5Be; -0.6% after hours