CHINA PRESS: Zhejiang Province Issues Special Bond For Housing Projects
Zhejiang province has issued CNY1.6 billion of special bonds specifically for purchasing existing commercial housing, Yicai news agency has reported. Industry insiders said although the value amounted to only 3% of the special bonds issued by the province in total, the move had significant policy implications and the proportion may rise as related projects improve. The bonds were rated AAA and backed by provincial government credit, and would support eight affordable housing projects in Huzhou, Wenzhou, and Jiaxing. Zhejiang’s initiative provides a replicable model for de-stocking efforts in lower tier regions, according to Yan Yuejin, deputy director at E-house China Research Institute, who noted third- and fourth-tier cities face high housing inventory and slow sales.
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FOREX: AUD Crosses - AUD Outperformance Continues
The Stock market had another leg higher on the back of a stronger than expected Payrolls print(177k) and the AUD continues to benefit in this environment. Bloomberg - “Anthony Albanese became Australia’s first leader to win consecutive elections in more than two decades. The PM’s center-left Labor Party is projected to take at least 86 of parliament’s 150 seats, expanding its majority.” On top of adding to his already large cash position instead of stocks Warren Buffet also said: “ There could be things that would happen in the US that would “make us want to own a lot of other currencies”.
- EUR/AUD - Friday night range 1.7518 - 1.7672. Asia is trading around 1.75100. The first support around 1.7600 was broken on Friday as the AUD outperforms. If risk continues to push higher this move could have further to go.
- GBP/AUD - Friday night range 2.0572 - 2.0787. Asia is trading back around 2.0525. A good break lower on Friday, a reduction in some longs potentially targets the 2.02/03 area. A bounce back towards 2.0800 should now see sellers first up.
- AUD/JPY - Friday night range 92.85 - 93.56, Asia is trading around 93.40. AUD/JPY has had a powerful extension as shorts are pared back. Price is now moving towards testing the Weekly resistance seen between 94.00/96.00 sellers should remerge here.
- AUD/NZD - Friday night range 1.0801 - 1.0847, the cross is dealing in Asia around 1.0830. Sellers could be expected again around these levels.
Fig 1: GBP/AUD spot Hourly Chart
Source: MNI - Market News/Bloomberg
AUSTRALIA: Increased Labor Majority, Will Need To Negotiate With Senate
Opinion polls suggested that the incumbent Labor (ALP) government would be returned after Saturday’s election with an average 2-party preferred vote of 52.5% to 47.5% in its favour. In the end, this underestimated their support with the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) currently saying the split was 54.8% to 45.2%, a swing of 2.6% to the ALP. A majority government reduces uncertainty significantly as there were concerns that there would be a minority which may have increased instability and the influence of the Greens in policy.
- Counting is still underway and 18 seats are still unallocated by the AEC as they are either too close to call or the Two Candidate Preferred count is less than 15%. So the final outcome may take days to be announced.
- Not including these 18, it estimates that the ALP has won 82 seats in the House of Representatives up from 77 in the previous parliament and likely to rise further.
- With an increased majority, the ALP agenda will be furthered with increased spending, including on Medicare and renewables, the extension of the electricity rebate, and likely further industrial relations changes. However, it won’t have a majority in the Senate and will have to continue compromising to get support of cross benchers.
- The Liberal/National (LNP) coalition has 38 down from 58 and only 4 of their existing seats have not been called. LNP leader Dutton lost his Queensland seat and so a vote on the leadership will take place.
- All four of the currently held Green seats haven’t been called yet. The number of independents could rise by 1 to 11.
US STOCKS: Pricing In Lots Of Positives
The ESM5 had a Friday night range of 5633.50 - 5724.75, Asia is currently trading 5681. The market had another leg higher on the back of a stronger than expected Payrolls print(177k).
- Asia has given back some of these gains early in our session as Trump says - “NO PLANS TO TALK TO XI THIS WEEK, CHINA AND US OFFICIALS TALKING ABOUT 'DIFFERENT THINGS'”.(per BBG)
- Berkshire Hathaway has been a net seller of stocks for ten consecutive quarters, trimming or exiting positions. At the 2025 annual shareholder meeting, Buffett explained that the firm is waiting for “extraordinarily attractive” opportunities, preferring to hold cash rather than overpay in an overheated market. The company’s cash pile has increased to an unprecedented $348 billion.
- The Stock market has seemed to price in the fruition to a lot of positive scenarios. The reality still feels a little way off with tariffs still high and trade deals not yet finding a resolution. The market will need to start seeing some specifics on these deals this week to build on this bounce.
- ISM Services PMI tonight will be important and will dictate price action tonight. Any move back towards a contraction will get the market worried about growth once more.
- The SPX has had a big bounce from its lows on 4800 handle, but we are approaching some key resistance between 5600-5800, the longer-term sellers should be active around here.
- Data: ISM Services PMI
Fig 1: SPX Weekly Chart
Source: MNI - Market News/Bloomberg
