EM ASIA CREDIT: Alibaba (BABA, A1/A+/A+) limited impact from U.S. Postal freeze

Feb-05 02:25

Alibaba (BABA, A1/A+/A+)

"*US POSTAL SERVICE SUSPENDS INBOUND PARCELS FROM CHINA, HK" - BBG

  • A headline for now, with limited information regarding the rationale. Negative bias for spreads.
  • We note that in a 2023 study compiled by the Office of Inspector General for the US Postal Service, that while e-Commerce was expected to grow by 20% annually to 2030, USPS continued to see significant declines in international inbound package volumes (-74% last 5 years as of report).
  • The market is highly competitive and is very much the domain of private carriers (FedEx, DHL UPS etc). I would expect the impact to be limited for China eCommerce.
     

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Historical bullets

AUD: A$ Stronger But Off Intraday Highs

Jan-06 01:52

Aussie is stronger today helped by better risk appetite and softer CNH trends. AUDUSD is up 0.2% to 0.6226, off the intraday high of 0.6240. It fell to 0.6208 early in today’s trading. The USD index is off its low to be little changed.

  • With the better risk tone, AUDNZD is up only 0.1% to 1.1082. However, AUDJPY is 0.4% higher at 98.17, close to the intraday high of 98.30. AUDEUR is up 0.2% to 0.6040 and AUDGBP +0.1% to 0.5008 after falling briefly below 0.5000 early in the session.
  • The final December S&P Global composite PMI was revised up 0.3pp to 50.2, the third straight month at this level and signalling only slight growth in activity which is being driven by the services sector. The services PMI was revised up 0.4pp to 50.8 to be 0.3pp higher than November.
  • Equities are mixed with the ASX up 0.1% and Hang Seng/CSI flat but Nikkei down 1.1% as it catches up after being closed several days. The S&P e-mini is 0.1% lower. Oil prices continue to climb with WTI +0.3% to $74.18/bbl. Copper is up 0.2% and iron ore has given up gains to be back around $99/t.
  • Later the Fed’s Cook speaks. US & European December services/composite PMIs and preliminary December German CPI data are released.  

MNI: CHINA PBOC CONDUCTS CNY14.1 BLN VIA 7-DAY REVERSE REPOS MON

Jan-06 01:50
  • CHINA PBOC CONDUCTS CNY14.1 BLN VIA 7-DAY REVERSE REPOS MON

CANADA: Local Media Report Trudeau Will Resign This Week

Jan-06 01:39

Headlines have crossed from the Globe and Mail that Canadian PM Trudeau will resign this week. The reports note that the resignation could happen later today, but that it is expected to happen before a national caucus meeting on Wednesday (see this BBG link for more details).