OVERNIGHT MARKETS AND NEWS
March E-mini S&Ps (ESH15 +0.21%) this morning are up +0.28% led by a rally in U.S. bank stocks after 29 banks passed stress tests Wednesday and several lenders boosted their share buyback programs. European stocks are down -0.05% after Eurozone Jan industrial production unexpectedly declined. Yields on European government bonds fell to record lows, with the yield on Germany’s 10-year bund sliding to an all-time low of 0.186%, after ECB Executive Board member Coeure said the ECB has bought 9.8 billion-euros of assets during the first three days of its QE program with an average maturity of 9 years. Asian stocks closed mostly higher: Japan +1.43%, Hong Kong +0.34%, China +1.93%, Taiwan +0.76%, Australia +0.98%, Singapore -0.15%, South Korea -0.75%, India +0.95%. Japan’s Nikkei Stock Index rose to the highest in 14-3/4 years, led by strength in exporters, as the yen held near a 7-1/2 year low against the dollar. China’s Shanghai Stock Index climbed to a 6-week high on signs that monetary easing is spurring demand for loans after data showed China Feb aggregate financing, China’s broadest measure of new credit, rose more than expected. Commodity prices are mostly higher. Apr crude oil (CLJ15 +0.91%) is up +0.50%. Apr gasoline (RBJ15 +1.45%) is up +1.16%. Apr gold (GCJ15 +0.73%) is up +0.82%. May copper (HGK15 +2.84%) is up +2.57%. Agriculture prices are mostly higher. The dollar index (DXY00 -0.77%) is down -0.66%. EUR/USD (^EURUSD) is up +0.62%. USD/JPY (^USDJPY) is down -0.31%. Jun T-note prices (ZNM15 +0.22%) are up +11 ticks.
China Feb new yuan loans were 1.020 trillion yuan, more than expectations of 1.000 trillion yuan, Feb aggregate financing, China’s broadest measure of new credit, was 1.35 trillion yuan ($215.5 billion), above expectations of 1.00 trillion yuan.
ECB Executive Board member Coeure said the ECB has bought 9.8 billion-euros of assets during the first three days of its QE program with an average maturity of 9 years, which is “very important” because it will affect the yield curve. He also said the ECB’s QE program could go beyond Sep 2016 “if needed.”
