CHINA: Key Local News Highlights - China, US can inject impetus into recovery

Risk sentiment has stabilized somewhat as the Asia Pac Monday session unfolds, with focus on Iran conflict/Hormuz headlines. Risk assets have moved away from earlier lows, but remain in the red, while oil prices are holding 7-8% gains. WTI has settled near $104/bbl, off earlier highs above $105/bbl. US equity futures, per Eminis, are down 0.75%, but are up from earlier lows sub 6800. The USD is firmer, but likewise away from best levels, particularly against higher beta plays. AUD/USD hit lows of 0.6986 in early dealings, but is now back to 0.7035/40 (off around 0.40% versus end Friday levels).  Dutch TTF (natural gas) is 5.4% below its high earlier, which started trading in our time zone as of today. 

• Earlier it was announced the naval blockade would commence 10am US ET on Monday. Headlines indicated the blockade will focus on ships entering or exiting Iranian ports and not ports from other countries. It remains to be seen though how much shipping flow from other countries flows under such a regime.
• Focus will be on the Iranian response, particularly in terms of outbound oil flows, along with threats to disrupt Saudi Arabia flows through its East-West pipeline, which are exported via the Red Sea.
• Elsewhere the WSJ reported that Trump is considering resuming limited military strikes on Iran to prompt a return to the negotiating table and break the stalemate.
• Trump also gave an impromptu press conference, largely reiterating his previous remarks around the destruction of Iran's military forces. He added the naval blockade will be very effective and it does not matter if Iran does not come back to the negotiating table. 

China’s PPI rose 0.5% year-on-year in March, ending a 41-month decline, and jumped 1.0% month-on-month — the biggest gain in 48 months, driven by rising global commodity prices and better industrial supply and demand. “Upstream prices increased sharply while demand in downstream sectors remained weak, which may squeeze profits,” reported China Business News, citing an analyst with Golden Credit Rating Company Monday.

The yuan strengthened sharply against the U.S. dollar last week, with both onshore and offshore rates jumping over 300 basis points on April 8 to their highest levels since April 2023. Easing Middle East tensions weakened the dollar index, while solid Chinese economic recovery, strong exports and improving domestic demand supported the currency. Analysts expect the yuan to fluctuate in both directions in the near term, while remaining broadly stable with a modest upward bias.