JGBS: Slightly Mixed, Machine Orders Stronger, Trade Balance In-Line

Aug-20 01:27

In Tokyo morning trade, JGB futures are little changed, +3 compared to settlement levels.

  • Japan June core machine orders were better than forecast. We rose 3.0%m/m, versus -0.5% forecast and -0.6% prior. The y/y print was 7.6%, against a 4.7% forecast and 4.4% prior. Today's machine orders print continues to paint a resilient capex picture for Japan's economy.
  • Japan July export and import outcomes were fairly close to market expectations, but the trade balances were slightly weaker. Exports fell -2.6%y/y (-2.1% forecast and -0.5% prior), while imports were -7.5%y/y, (-10.0% forecast and 0.3% prior). The trade deficit was -¥117.5bn, against a ¥198.5bn forecast. In seasonally adjusted terms we printed at -¥303bn, against a -¥67.2bn forecast (June's outcome was -¥247.6bn).
  • US tsys are little changed in today’s Asia-Pac session.
  • Cash JGBs are slightly mixed across benchmarks, with yields 1.5bps lower (7-year) to 1bp higher (40-year). The benchmark 10-year yield is 1bp lower at 1.592% versus the cycle high of 1.616%.
  • Swap rates are flat to 1bp higher, with a steepening bias. 

Historical bullets

CHINA PRESS: Strong H1 Economic Results Provides Space For H2 Reforms - Guan Tao

Jul-21 01:26

China’s strong economic performance in H1 puts the annual growth target well within reach and gives officials space to prioritise structural reforms in H2, rather than new macro economic measures, according to Guan Tao, former senior official at the State Administration of Foreign Exchange. While the trade-in programme has delivered notable results, Guan said that efforts to sustainably boost consumer demand require reforms aimed at improving residents’ expectations for permanent income and strengthening overall consumption capacity.

CHINA PRESS: Japan's Steel Profits Demonstrate Successful Restructuring

Jul-21 01:26

Japan’s Nippon Steel posted a profit of CNY16.9 billion in 2024, exceeding the combined earnings of China’s four largest steel producers, according to Yicai.com. The result highlights the success of Japan in restructuring following the collapse of the real estate bubble in the 1990s and the sharp drop in domestic demand. Nippon, along with South Korea’s Posco, hold a significant share of their domestic markets. In contrast, China’s top ten steel companies collectively account for only about 40% of the Chinese market and continue to compete with largely homogenous products, said Ge Xin, deputy director at the Lange Steel Network Research Center. Amid growing trade restrictions on Chinese exports of finished steel products, mills have ramped up overseas sales of semi-finished steel billets, Ge said, noting that slabs exported to South Korea are priced roughly CNY100 per tonne lower than those produced at local mills.

CHINA PRESS: China’s Inclusive Finance Index Up In June

Jul-21 01:25

China’s Inclusive Finance Prosperity Index, which tracks inclusive financial support for small and micro enterprises and the real economy, rose to 49.03 points in June, up 0.07 points from May, an indication that financial backing for the real economy remains steady. Within the index’s business prosperity sub-index, four sectors posted gains, including retail and information services, while five sectors declined, notably construction, transportation, and accommodation and catering. The index is jointly published by the China Economic Information Service, the China Banking Association, and the China Association of Small and Medium Enterprises. (Source: Securities Daily)