(AS) Austrian Apr Industrial Production M/M: 0.1% v -0.5%e, Y/Y: -10.8 v -14.3% prior
(EU) Eurozone April Current Account: -€5.9B v -€7.0B prior, Current Account NSA: -€9.2B v -€4.0B prior
OECD May Economic Outlook: Revises its 2009 GDP for member countries to -4.1% from -4.3% prior view; first upward revision in 2 years
In equities news overnight: European equity markets opened to a broadly positive level following strong Asian and pre-market trading levels. Asian equity gains snapped two sharply negative sessions with traders commenting that some short covering could account for some of the buying actions. European bourses opened positive following a large flow of equity news throughout the European morning. In sector performance, Oracle's post market report out of the US buoyed tech and software names with German [SAP.GE] posting strong gains along with Cap Gemini [CAP.FR] and Alcatel [ALU.FR]. Within the FTSE, miner and basic resource names continued the rally out of the Australian bourse with Rio [RIO.UK], Anglo [AAL.UK], and Eurasian [ENRC.UK] moving higher. A further sector upgrade for UK commercial retail names out of Credit Suisse lifted those names, specifically Hammerson [HMSO.UK]. Negative sentiment could not be kept out equity bourses, however, and initial gains were paired by 3:15EST with all major indexes moving into the red. Healthcare and retail names led the sector declines, disappointing earnings out of large ticket retailers Kesa Electric [KESA.UK] precipitated continued retailer declines. Declines persisted through the 3:00EST hour and into the 4:00EST time slot. European bourses bounced around their lows past 4:15EST and began a slow upward trend on little fresh equity news. Markets began expecting comments out the ECB regarding its first 12-month refi operation. Comments out of the OECD at 4:30 rallied equity markets sharply as the organization raised its member 2009 GDP target to a -4.1% from a previous 4.3%. Significantly, the OECD called for further ECB rate cuts and continuation of low levels for a considerable time. As expected, tech, basic resources and financials bounced on these comments. Equities again looked to pair their gains but new Euribor lows, with reductions in the 1, 3 and 6-month figures pushed equities to new highs. At 5:19EST the ECB released its 12-month refi results, announcing that €442.24B (ahead of expectations) had been allotted, equities pushed higher. The export heavy DAX lead the upward drift at +0.75%, the CAC at +0.50% and the FTSE lagging at +0.10%. Trading volumes through the European morning remained slightly muted, breaking a week that had been trending in line with moving averages.
In specific equity news: Siemens [SIE.GE] Reaffirmd 2009 growth target, sees total profits exceeding €6.6B v €6.1Be (as first given on 29th April). || K+S [SDF.GE] Cut its 2009 and 2010 Global Potash Sales Forecast. 2009 Worldwide sales seen at 40M tons v 50M ton prior view. 2010 Worldwide sales seen at 50M tons v 60M ton prior view. || RWE [RWE.GE] Reaffirmed FY09 outlook, dividend payout to be 50-60% of recurring net . €450M efficiency enhancement targets remain on-line, seeking to extend savings to €1.2B by 2012. EU gives RWE clearance to acquire Dutch Essent with conditions. || Commerzbank [CBK.GE] Reiterated FY2012 op profit at more than €4B v €4.8Be; Targets FY2012 and later ROE around 12%. Q2 results have so far been mixed; business in private client services remains low. Does not expect any operating profit from CEE region operations. || MAN [MAN.GE] CEO: Q2 truck volumes should be comparable to Q1, is not seeing any real signs of improvement. || Air France [AF.FR] Has reportedly closed €661M convertible bond auctions. || Kesa Electricals [KESA.UK] Reported FY09 Pretax loss £81.8M (incl items) v £70.1Me, R £4.95B v £4.9Be. || Stagecoach Group [SGC.UK] Reports FY09 Pretax £196.4M v £174.4M y/y. Rev £2.10B v £1.8B y/y. || Inchcape [INCH.UK] Provides trading statement: 5 month total sales fell 22.6% in constant currency terms (-16% in GBP terms). || SAB Miller [SAB.UK] WSJ comments on company market share threatened by Heineken NV and Diageo PLC, who plan to begin South Africa operations in the next few months. || Renault [RNO.FR] DoE formally grants $5.9B in new US loans to Ford, $1.6B in US loans to Nissan. || EAD [EAD.FR] rival BA: Reportedly in discussions to compensate Asian customers over Dreamliner delay. || Continental [CON.GE] Schaeffler to delay full merger with Continental -Manager Magazine. || Porsche [PAH3.GE] Volkswagen would see that Porsche Automobil would have an autonomous status under the VW unbrella - FT Deutschland. || ENI [ENI.IT] Declares force majeure on Brass River crude oil exports (Nigeria). ||Sulzer [SUN.SZ] Planning further cost cuts of up to CHF100M, to cut 1,400 jobs ( about 11% of workforce). To take CHF55M charge on back of activities. ||
Speakers: ECB's Gonzalez Paramo commented that the ECB would wait and see effect of new measures and reiterated the view that confidence remained the main challenge for the economy. Spain must be precise on budget exit strategy as the economy was no longer in 'free fall' but was still falling. ||| (GE) German Fin Min Steinbureck commented that seeks to cut borrowing to €40B by 2014 and to comply with Maastricht Stability pact (deficit at 3% of GDP) by 2013 or 2014. Note: earlier this month Steinbureck confirmed that new borrowing for 2010 is expected at €90B, with a deficit of 4% of GDP in 2009, 6% in 2010, and below 3% of GDP in 2013 ||| BoJ's Nakamura commented that current financial conditions remained severe. He noted that it was too early to either end or even extend extraordinary policies. When the time does come to end the extraordinary measures it must be done in a way that would not surprise the markets. BOJ might end unusual measures when market recovers 'significantly'. He commented that the recent decline in long-term yields seemed to be occurring on receding optimism. ||| BoJ Shirakawa commented that Japan's economic decline has likely bottomed but it would continue to support economy with downside risks in mind ||| OCED commented on their member states and noted that Current FX rates are not affecting economic recovery, though strong JPY was hurting Japan. The weak USD was not a concern and that the Chinese Yuan would need an adjustment in long term. Chinese Govt has room for more fiscal stimulus in 2010. It noted that by 2011 Govts could start to unwind stimulus programs. OECD was not concerned over deflation or inflation issues and that rise in yields was due to normalization and not inflationary fears. The OECD did note that out of control budget deficits could lead to "blowout" in bond yields. On budgets; OECD preferred spending cuts to curb deficits rather than tax hikes. Preferable that Central banks keep interest rates to as close to zero as possible. ECB has room to cut rates further and should act quickly. ECB and BoJ should announce intentions to keep interest rates low || World Bank forecasted 2009 Russia GDP -7.9%, jobless rate at 13%, Inflation reaching 11-13%
In Currencies: The USD began the European session on a soft note as Eastern European names were seen as 'aggressive' Euro buyers and this seemed to correspond with comments made yesterday by Russian Deputy PM Shuvalov in which he noted that its Central bank (CBR) was working on new steps to diversify currency reserves. EUR/USD traded as high as 1.4138 before consolidating. The OECD report on growth among its current members seem to help the USD steady a bit. The OECD raised US 2009 GDP view to -2.8% v -4% prior while cutting Euro-Zone's 2009 GDP view to -4.8% v -4.1% prior. The report also commented that ECB had room to cut rates further and should act quickly in doing so. OECD added that both the ECB and BoJ should announce intentions to keep interest rates low for a period of time. The EUR/USD tested 1.4060 as the morning wore on.
Dealers also reported good demand from Middle Eastern players for GBP-related pairs. GBP/USD re-approached the 1.6600 area before retreating and EUR/GBP moved lower to 0.8500.
In Fixed Income Supply: With equities bid, Government bonds have been on a weaker footing for most of the European session. However, news that banks, in the belief that rates are unlikely to fall further, had taken advantage of the ECB's first offering of 12 month funds more enthusiastically than expected provided a boost to short dated issues and sent the German yield curve steeper, with 2s10s currently back above 200bps. (European Banks borrowed €442B worth of 1 year funds at 1%, more than circa €300B expected) After opening offered, Gilts have managed to remain in positive territory with some slight steepening in the UK yield curve . Three month Euribor fixed at a new low of 1.195%
NOTES
USD maintains a soft tone into FOMC meeting with reserve management adjustment allegedly behind the move.
IMF may increase its 2009 and 2010 GDP estimates for most of Asia, excluding India and China, by about 1 percentage point
OECD Economic Outlook: Revises its 2009 GDP for member countries to -4.1% from -4.3% prior view; first upward revision in 2 years.
China's northern province of Liaoning, Asia's largest iron ore deposit has been discovered containing reserves of more than 3B metric tons -
Japan's exports continued to tumble in May
Japan's Cabinet Office is expected to forecast an approximately 1% expansion in the country's real GDP for 2010. This would be the first time in 3 years that the government projects economic growth
China ordered local banks to avoid accelerating loan growth at the end of months and quarters
Fed to start to hint at an exit strategy. Fed to repeat its commitment to "exceptionally low" rates for an extended period?
Looking AheadFed decision
(PD) Polish Interest Rate Decision: 25bps cut to 3.50% expected (current Base Rate is 3.75%)
7:00 (US) MBA Mortgage Applications w/e Jun 19th: No expectations v -15.8% prior
8:30 (US) May Durable Goods Orders: -0.9%e v 1.9% prior, Durables ex Transportation: -0.5%e v 0.8% prior
9:30 (BR) Brazil May Current Account: -$1.14Be v $146M prior
9:30 (UK) Boe's King, Bean, Fisher, Sentence, Barker, Haldane testify at Treasury select committee
10:00 (US) May New Home Sales: 360Ke v 352K prior, M/M: 2.3%e v 0.3% prior
11:30 (IT) ECB's Bini Smaghi speaks in Rome
13:00 (US) US to sell $35B in 5y Notes
14:15 (US) FOMC Rate Decision
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