JPY: JPY Crosses - Holding Gains, CNH/JPY Tests Lows

Apr-16 02:49

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CHINA: Property Development Declines -9.8% y/y

Mar-17 02:21
  • Any expectations for strength in the property sector were quickly diminished with the release of the February Property Development statistics.
  • Declining -9.8% y/y this represented the 32nd consecutive month of declines.
  • New home sales declined -0.4% y/y with the sales area declining -3.4% y/y.
  • New property values declined -2.6% y/y with area sold down by -5.1%.
  • New property construction declined materially by -29.6% y/y.
  • Fixed asset investments were a bright light amongst the release, rising by +4.1% y/y from +3.2% y/y the month prior. 

CNH: USD/CNH Rebounds To 7.2400, Equities Off Earlier Highs Amid Mixed Data

Mar-17 02:13

USD/CNH is tracking higher as the market digests the Feb activity figures. We were last near 7.2390, little changed for the session, but up from earlier lows at 7.2253. Local equities are back in the red, off earlier highs, with focus remaining on consumer staple stocks amid efforts to boost the consumption outlook. These moves keep us within recent ranges for USD/CNH.

  • There may have been some disappointment around the house price data, which showed renewed softness in the space for Feb. Property investment figures for Feb were also below forecast, but sales improved in YTD y/y terms, while other data showed the unemployment rate rising to 5.4%, against a 5.1% forecast.
  • Still, other data showed IP and retail sales, along with fixed asset investment above forecasts. 

CHINA: February Retail Sales Beat Expectations. 

Mar-17 02:12
  • China’s retail sales for February expanded +4.0%, up from +3.8% prior.
  • Retail sales in rural areas jumped significantly with the best performance in three months, despite the Lunar New Year holiday.
  • Unsurprisingly, restaurants, food and consumer goods were strong over the reporting period whilst larger ticket items such as household electronics were much lower than the prior month.
  • To some market watchers, the buoyancy of the retail sales has been surprising given the general malaise in the property sector that impacts all.
  • China’s authorities have been clear in their focus on domestic consumption as measures to preserve their recently set growth target of 5% for 2025. 
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