ASIA STOCKS: Equity Outflows Accelerate - Taiwan -$3.8bn Last Two Days

In Tokyo morning trade, JGB futures are weaker and at session lows, -16 compared to settlement levels, after the release of Q3 GDP data.

• Q3 GDP (preliminary) in Japan was negative q/q, but not as much as the market forecast, thanks to upbeat business spending (+1.0%q/q versus -0.1% forecast). This was the first GDP decline since Q1 2024, but the detail paints a resilient underlying economic backdrop and comes ahead of fresh fiscal stimulus from the new Takaichi government. Today's GDP data should add some confidence, at the margins, the BOJ has in the GDP backdrop. We await Ueda's early Dec speech for details around hike timing.
• The data will likely bolster the Takaichi administration’s conviction that aggressive fiscal spending is needed to shore up the economy, with the premier expected to unveil her first economic package as soon as this week.
• The Finance Ministry is preparing an economic package of roughly ¥17tn, according to a Nikkei report published Saturday.
• Cash US tsys are flat to 1bp cheaper, with a steepening bias, in today's Asia-Pac session.
• Cash JGBs are flat to 2bps cheaper across benchmarks, with a steepening bias. The benchmark 10-year yield is 1.2bps higher at 1.722%, a fresh cycle high.
• Swap rates are 1-5bps higher.

Source: Bloomberg Finance LP

The S&P(ESZ5) overnight range was 6670.50 - 6795.50, SPX closed -0.05%, Asia is currently trading around 6760.00. The S&P looked to be rolling over again on Friday night down almost 1.5% before it found solid demand during the N/Y session and pared back all the day's losses.  The market will be looking toward the release of some US data this week to get a gauge on things and also heavily focused on the upcoming Nvidia results which will heavily impact the direction of markets this week. The Crypto space which has been a leading indicator for risk has fallen to a low around $93 000 this morning and is technically starting to look vulnerable to a deeper correction. This morning stocks opened a little higher, E-minis(S&P) +0.05%, NQZ5 +0.10%. Technically the S&P has put in a lower high on the Daily chart and this could be signaling a deeper potential pullback, but a break below the support between 6550-6600 will be needed first to confirm a break of the bullish trend.

Fig 1: S&P 500 Index Daily Chart

Source: MNI - Market News/Bloomberg Finance L.P

Q3 GDP (preliminary) in Japan was negative q/q, but not as much as the market forecast, thanks to upbeat business spending (+1.0%q/q versus -0.1% forecast). This was the first GDP decline since Q1 2024, but the detail paints a resilient underlying economic backdrop and comes ahead of fresh fiscal stimulus from the new Takaichi government. Today's GDP data should add some confidence, at the margins, the BOJ has in the GDP backdrop (particularly in terms of the drivers). We await Ueda's early Dec speech for details around hike timing. 

•  The q/q outcome for GDP was -0.4% against a -0.6% forecast. Note Q2 growth was revised to +0.6% from 0.5% originally reported. In annualized terms, growth -1.8%q/q, versus -2.4% forecast and a revised 2.3% gain in Q2. Note business s[ending was also revised up in Q2 to 0.8% from 0.6%q/q. Other components of GDP were close to forecasts, consumption up 0.1%q/q, while inventories were a -0.2ppt drag and net exports also trimmed -0.2ppt off growth.
• Whilst this is just a preliminary GDP print, the detail should be welcomed by the authorities. The q/q trends for private consumption (the white line) and business spending are plotted in the chart below.
• The resilience to strength in business spending, in particular, will be welcome. Via our Tokyo policy team: Private consumption and capital investment, the major components of the economy, are likely to firm in or after the fourth quarter, the official said. Private consumption, particularly non-durable goods, was hit by high prices and scorching weather in Q3, but is undergoing a moderate recovery supported by improving consumer sentiment, the official added.
• This also comes ahead of fresh fiscal stimulus, via BBG: "The Finance Ministry plans an economic package worth about ¥17 trillion ($110 billion), the Nikkei reported on Saturday, without identifying its sources. The supplementary budget to fund the spending is expected to reach about ¥14 trillion, exceeding last year’s ¥13.9 trillion compiled under former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, the report said." - BBG

Fig 1: Japan GDP Components, Q/Q (Consumption (White Line) & Business Spending (Orange Line) 

Source: Bloomberg Finance L.P./MNI