EM ASIA CREDIT: China Resources Land: September property sales up

The Australian Office of Financial Management (AOFM) will today sell A$1200mn of the 4.25% 21 December 2035 bond. The line was last sold on 13 August 2025 for A$1200mn. The line was opened via syndication on 24 July 2024 for A$11.5bn. 

• The last sale drew an average yield of 4.2776%, at a high yield of 4.2800% and was covered 3.2417x. There were 33 bidders, 22 of which were successful and 13 were allocated in full. The amount allotted at the highest yield as a percentage of the amount bid at that yield was 18.2%.
• This week's ACGB supply is at the top of the recent average weekly issuance of $1500-2200mn, with A$1000mn of the 1.00% 21 December 2030 bond due on Friday.
• During the first half of 2025-26, the AOFM plans to: issue a new October 2036 Treasury Bond (by syndication and subject to market conditions); conduct 2 Treasury Bond tenders most weeks; hold 1-2 Treasury Indexed Bond tenders each month.
• Issuance of Treasury Bonds (including Green Treasury Bonds) in 2025-26 is expected to be around $150 billion. Issuance of Treasury Indexed Bonds in 2025-26 is expected to be between $2 billion and $3 billion. 
• Results are due at 0200 BST / 1100 AEST.

Japan headline Aug trade figures were mixed. Exports were -0.1%y/y, against a -2.0% forecast (-2.6% was the July outcome). On the import side, we fell -5.2%y/y, against a -4.1% forecast and -7.4% prior outcome. The trade deficit was -¥242.5bn, against a -¥512.6bn forecast, while July's print was -¥118.4bn. In seasonally adjusted terms the trade deficit was -¥150.1bn, which was also better than forecast, but sub recent cycle highs for the balance (+¥166.5bn in Feb). 

• Tariff impact was seen, with exports to the US down -13.8%y/y. To the EU exports rose 5.5%y/y, while to China exports were down a modest -0.5%y/y. The trade surplus Japan has with the US narrowed to ¥324bn. In Feb this year the surplus was at ¥918.5bn.
• Automobile exports fell 7.9% in August, the fifth consecutive decline following an 11.4% fall in July. Iron and steel exports dropped 14.9%, easing from July’s 21.0% fall. Auto exports to the US fell by 28.4%.
• Export growth for Japan was down in y/y terms for the fourth straight month. The chart below shows export growth for key Asian economies (Japan is the red line). Outside of Taiwan, which is the standout, the trends are broadly similar, albeit with China and South Korea managing to maintain positive y/y growth in recent months. 

Fig 1: Key Asian Economy Export Growth Trends - Y/Y  

Source: Bloomberg Finance L.P./MNI 

Gold reached another record high on Tuesday and also breached round number support at $3700. It reached $3703.07/oz before moderating to finish up 0.3% at $3689.98. It is currently around $3694.9, close to today’s high. Bullion has been supported by Fed rate cut expectations with a full 25bp priced in for Wednesday’s decision and two possibly three easings by year end. This drove the US dollar down further yesterday (BBDXY -0.5%) and yields slightly lower.

• With non-interest bearing gold up 7% this month in anticipation of easing, it will be looking to the updated Fed forecasts and Chair Powell’s comments to guide direction. He seems unlikely to signal consecutive cuts as uncertainty around the impact of higher US tariffs especially on inflation persists.
• The break above $3700 has opened resistance at $3705.2. The metal is in a primary uptrend. Initial support is at $3614.0, 11 September low.
• Silver fell 0.3% to $42.564 after reaching $42.972 and then declining to $42.259. It is currently around $42.59. Silver is also in an uptrend and broke above initial resistance at $42.778 but it wasn’t sustained. Initial support is at $40.432, 20-day EMA.
• Equities were weaker with the S&P down 0.1% and Euro stoxx -1.3% but the S&P e-mini is around 0.1% higher so far on Wednesday. Oil rallied with Brent +1.6% to $68.49/bbl. Copper fell 0.4%.