OVERNIGHT MARKETS AND NEWS
March E-mini S&Ps (ESH15 -0.31%) this morning are down -0.32% ahead of Feb ADP employment data and ahead of the Fed Beige Book, while European stock are up +0.06% after Eurozone Jan retail sales rose more than expected. Gains in European stocks were limited after the Eurozone Feb composite PMI grew less than expected. Asian stocks closed mixed: Japan -0.59%, Hong Kong -0.96%, China +0.65%, Taiwan +0.17%, Australia-0.54%, Singapore -0.19%, South Korea -0.07%, India -0.72%. Commodity prices are mostly lower due to strength in the dollar. Apr crude oil (CLJ15+0.79%) is up +0.49% and Apr gasoline (RBJ15 -1.21%) is down -0.96%. Apr gold (GCJ15 +0.05%) is down -0.08%. May copper (HGK15 +0.30%) is down -0.19%. Agriculture prices are weaker. The dollar index (DXY00 +0.25%) is up +0.30% at a fresh 11-1/3 year high. EUR/USD (^EURUSD) is down-0.40% at a 5-week low. USD/JPY (^USDJPY) is down -0.11%. Jun T-note prices (ZNM15 +0.07%) are down -0.50 of a tick.
Eurozone Jan retail sales rose +1.1% m/m and +3.7% y/y, stronger than expectations of +0.2% m/m and +2.3% y/y with the +3.7% y/y gain the largest annual increase in nearly 9-1/2 years.
The Eurozone Feb Markit composite PMI was revised downward by -0.2 to 53.3 from the originally reported 53.5, but still is the fastest pace of expansion in 7 months.
The German Feb Markit services PMI was revised lower by -0.8 to 54.7 from the originally reported 55.5.
The UK Feb Markit/CIPS services PMI unexpectedly fell -0.5 to 56.7, weaker than expectations of +0.3 to 57.5.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBA) unexpectedly lowered the benchmark repurchase rate by -25 bp to 7.50% with RBA Governor Rajan saying “given low capacity utilization and still-weak indicators of production and credit off-take, it is appropriate for the RBA to be pre-emptive in its policy action to utilize available space for monetary accommodation.”
