Market Talk – May 30, 2023

ASIA:

Consumer prices in China increased at their slowest pace in two years, indicating deflationary pressure and weakness in domestic demand. The consumer price index rose by only 0.1% in April compared to the previous year, the lowest rate of inflation since February 2021. The producer price index, which measures factory-gate prices, experienced a significant decline of 3.6%, the largest contraction in three years. The real estate sector, which contributes significantly to China’s GDP, is currently experiencing a historic downturn, with new home prices barely increasing in March and February. This downturn affects the demand for key raw materials like steel and cement, impacting the producer price index. Import data released in April showed a 7.9% plunge, indicating weak domestic demand, while exports remained strong, growing by 8.5% compared to the previous year, albeit at a slower pace than in March.

The major Asian stock markets had a mixed day today:

• NIKKEI 225 increased 94.62 points or 0.30% to 31,328.16
• Shanghai increased 2.76 points or 0.09% to 3,224.21
• Hang Seng increased 44.67 points or 0.24% to 18,595.78
• ASX 200 decreased 8.10 points or -0.11% to 7,209.30
• Kospi increased 26.71 points or 1.04% to 2,585.52
• SENSEX increased 122.75 points or 0.20% to 62,969.13
• Nifty50 increased 35.20 points or 0.19% to 18,633.85

The major Asian currency markets had a mixed day today:

• AUDUSD decreased 0.00205 or -0.31% to 0.65165
• NZDUSD decreased 0.00047 or -0.08% to 0.60463
• USDJPY decreased 0.632 or -0.45% to 139.808
• USDCNY increased 0.00706 or 0.10% to 7.09216

Precious Metals:

• Gold increased 15.11 USD/t oz. or 0.78% to 1,957.95
• Silver decreased 0.028 USD/t. oz or -0.12% to 23.166

Some economic news from last night:

Japan:

Jobs/applications ratio (Apr) remain the same at 1.32

Australia:

Building Approvals (MoM) (Apr) decreased from -1.0% to -8.1%

New Zealand:

Building Consents (MoM) (Apr) decreased from 6.6% to -2.6%

No economic news from today:

EUROPE/EMEA:

The European Central Bank (ECB) has issued a warning that the top banks in the euro zone could face negative consequences if their financial clients, including funds, insurers, and clearing houses, were to withdraw their deposits or encounter financial difficulties. The ECB conducted a study on the potential risks of spillovers from “shadow banks” (financial entities that provide funding) to traditional lenders, and vice versa. The study revealed that the exposure to these risks, in terms of both bank assets (e.g., loans) and liabilities (e.g., deposits), was concentrated in the top 13 banks in the euro zone, including the eight globally significant banks. The study highlighted the significant risk posed by the potential withdrawal of funds by shadow banks, such as deposits and repurchase agreements, which account for 13% of all liabilities for traditional banks, and possibly even more for larger banks.

The major Europe stock markets had a negative day today:

• CAC 40 decreased 94.06 points or -1.29% to 7,209.75
• FTSE 100 decreased 105.13 points or -1.38% to 7,522.07
• DAX 30 decreased 43.82 points or -0.27% to 15,908.91

The major Europe currency markets had a green day today:

• EURUSD increased 0.00178 or 0.17% to 1.07228
• GBPUSD increased 0.00543 or 0.44% to 1.24053
• USDCHF increased 0.0004 or 0.04% to 0.90450

Some economic news from Europe today:

Swiss:

KOF Leading Indicators (May) decreased from 96.1 to 90.2

GDP (YoY) (Q1) decreased from 0.7% to 0.6%

GDP (QoQ) (Q1) increased from 0.0% to 0.3%

Spain:

Spanish CPI (YoY) (May) decreased from 4.1% to 3.2%

Spanish HICP (YoY) (May) decreased from 3.8% to 2.9%

US/AMERICAS:

The US will not tolerate China’s ban on chipmaker Micron. Beijing has told Chinese companies to refrain from purchasing products from Micron Technology, the US-based manufacturer of memory chips used in phones, computers, and other electronics. The Cyberspace Administration of China has said that Micron products have unspecified security risks but gave no details, and it banned them from computers that handle sensitive information. Micron, one of the largest memory chip makers in the United States, derives more than 10% of its revenue from China. The company has warned that the ban could cost it as much as a “high single-digit” percentage of its annual revenue

US Market Closings:

• Dow declined 50.56 points or -0.15% to 33,042.78
• S&P 500 advanced 0.07 of a point to 4,205.54
• Nasdaq advanced 41.74 points or 0.32% to 13,017.43
• Russell 2000 declined 5.73% or -0.32% to 1,767.29

Canada Market Closings:

• TSX Composite declined 228.25 points or -1.14% to 19,739.7
• TSX 60 declined 14.11 points or -1.17% to 1,187.37

Brazil Market Closing:

• Bovespa declined 1,366.37 points or -1.24% to 108,987.03

ENERGY:

The oil markets had a negative day today:

• Crude Oil decreased 2.83 USD/BBL or -3.88% to 70.181
• Brent decreased 2.964 USD/BBL or -3.85% to 74.106
• Natural gas decreased 0.0418 USD/MMBtu or -1.78% to 2.3003
• Gasoline decreased 0.0949 USD/GAL or -3.51% to 2.6066
• Heating oil decreased 0.0566 USD/GAL or -2.39% to 2.3075

The above data was collected around 11:14 EST on Tuesday

• Top commodity gainers: Cotton (1.86%), Rice (2.02%), Copper (3.66%) and Lean Hogs (4.45%)
• Top commodity losers: Palm Oil (-4.03%), Crude Oil (-3.88%), Wheat (-4.13%) and Brent (-3.85%)

The above data was collected around 11:19 EST Tuesday.

BONDS:

Japan 0.436% (+0.1bp), US 2’s 4.49% (-0.106%), US 10’s 3.7000% (-7.12bps); US 30’s 3.90% (-0.038%), Bunds 2.343% (-9bp), France 2.912% (-8.9bp), Italy 4.156% (-12.3bp), Turkey 10.23% (+127bp), Greece 3.818% (-6.1bp), Portugal 3.085% (-8.8bp); Spain 3.393% (-10.7bp) and UK Gilts 4.25% (-8.4bp).

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