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StreetAccount Summary - Asian Market Recap: Nikkei (0.51%), Hang Seng +1.07%, Shanghai Composite +0.23% as of 04:10 ET

Jun 05 ,2025

  • Synopsis:

    • Asia equities ended mostly higher Thursday. More gains for South Korea's Kospi post presidential election. Hang Seng and mainland China boards also higher; India, Taiwan, Singapore and most of Southeast Asia with small gains. Losses in Japan and Australia. US futures higher, Europe up in the opening hour. US dollar marginally higher after overnight losses, Asia currencies weaker although won stronger again. Treasury yields mostly higher, JGB yields lower across tenors amid smallest bid-to-cover ratio in two years in 30Y auction. Crude oil higher, base metals down, precious metals mixed.

    • Asia equities drifted Thursday with developed Asia markets in Australia and Japan declining and emerging benchmarks gaining modestly. South Korea's Kospi also enjoyed a second consecutive day of gains following Tuesday's presidential election, as newly installed President Lee ordered a review into the country's economy and the BOK warned over stagflation unless deep reform was made. Markets still await substantive trade negotiation break through. Japan said to be offering rare earths and LNG package in talks, and South Korea's new President Lee said to be talking to Trump soon. But still uncertainty over whether Xi and Trump will speak this week.

    • In other developments, Japan real wage growth maintained prior month's declines but base pay saw strongest growth since December. China Caixin services PMI edged higher within forecasts amid pickup in new business that offset renewed decline in new export orders. Australian household spending remained anemic. Taiwan inflation turned to deflation in May with decline of 0.3% m/m.

    • Japan's infrastructure ministry (MLIT) has issued a hearing notification to Japan Post Holdings (6178.JP) with the view to revoking its licence due to irregularities. Nippon Steel's (5401.JP) investment in US Steel could push its debt above its equity valuation, fueling concerns among analysts over its financial burden. Hon Hai Precision (2317.TT) reported May revenue up almost 12% y/y and up 21% in the Jan-May period. CK Infrastructure's (1038.HK) MTR unit is considering an offer for the UK's stock leading company Eversholt Rail worth around HK$42.4B.

  • Digest:

    • BOJ said to be considering slower JGB purchase reductions next year:

      • Reuters cited multiple sources indicating BOJ is considering slowing the pace of JGB purchase tapering from next fiscal year, a move that would signal its focus on avoiding market disruptions. However, consensus yet to crystalize within the BOJ as some prefer to maintain the current pace on the view the bank should focus on reducing its presence in the bond market. Final decision will be made at the BOJ's next policy meeting on June 16-17, when the board conducts a review of a current tapering plan that runs through March and comes up with a subsequent program for April 2026 onward, likely to cover a one-year period through Mar-27. Article cited minutes of the bond market hearing showed a number of requests to ease the quarterly pace of tapering to around JPY200B ($1.4B) vs current JPY400B and sources said some officials see such views as a reasonable ballpark figure. At the interim assessment, BOJ is likely to roughly maintain its taper plan for this year, which would see monthly bond buying halved to JPY3T by Mar-26. If the BOJ were to cut bond buying by JPY200B per quarter in FY26, monthly buying will fall to around JPY2T by Mar-27. This week, recall BOJ Governor Ueda's main takeaways from the bond market hearings were that most participants support continued purchase reductions, calls for interim tweaks to the FY25 plan were a minority, and it was important for BOJ to prioritize predictability with a flexible approach to the strategy from Apr-26.

    • Japan to offer rare earths-LNG package deal in US tariff talks:

      • Ahead of the next round of US-Japan trade talks in Washington, Nikkei reported Japan will propose a supply chain agreement encompassing seven rare earths and LNG, aiming to play into US scrutiny of China in order to win concessions. Proposal would help to secure essential minerals for industrial activity, which was reportedly a specific request from President Trump during last month's phone call with Prime Minister Ishiba. Follows China's restrictions on rare earth exports to the US in retaliation for tariff hikes. Corporate sector urgency on the matter has escalated sharply in recent days; auto sector called for immediate action on China restrictions, warning of disruptions in auto parts production (Reuters). Some parts manufacturers in Europe have halted operations due to rare earths shortages (Nikkei). Japan can offer expertise to the US in the processing and recycling of rare earths. Additionally, Japan has already been considering purchases of US LNG, which could substitute for sales lost to China, which has effectively halted US imports. Article also mentioned a plan for Japan to buy several billions of dollars' worth of US-made semiconductor products via companies such as Nvidia (NVDA). Cooperation in shipbuilding also has China in mind. Article suggested Japan policy makers have shifted tactics given difficulties in buying enough US products to meaningfully shrink the JPY9T bilateral trade surplus and are instead turning to alternative proposals appealing to US.

    • Bank of Korea warns on 'stagflation' unless structural reforms carried out:

      • South Korea's central bank Thursday warned country's economy showing increasing similarities to Japan's stagflationary period, must make bold structural reforms to prevent prolonged low growth. BOK said country following in Japan's footsteps with mounting private-sector debt, which in 2034 reached 207.4% of GDP close to Japan's peak 214.2% (Yonhap). Added country must draw lessons from Japan, carry out structural innovation, and 'creative destruction' to overcome aging economic framework that is outdated relative to development level. Noted post Japan's bubble-burst, asset-linked debt destabilized banking sector and led to distorted capital allocation. Said debt should be tightly controlled through regulation, decisive corporate restructuring, sustained efforts to manage household debt. Noted demographic challenges also mirrors Japan. Report comes as bank confirmed Q1 GDP contracted 0.2% q/q with manufacturing output declining 0.6% and construction 0.2% (KoreaHerald), and as new President Lee ordered emergency task force to examine economy.

    • China Caixin Services PMI increases in May, in line with estimates:

      • Caixin services PMI was 51.1, in line with consensus and improved from April's seven-month low of 50.7. Data marked 29th consecutive month of service sector expansion. Service providers signaled stronger increase in both new business and activity amid efforts to expand business and widen client pool. Meanwhile new export orders fell for first time in 2025 due to uncertain trade conditions. Employment rose in May after contraction in two prior months and backlogs of work only rose marginally. Input costs extended upward trend on higher purchase prices and wages. Meanwhile selling prices fell for fourth straight month due to intense competition and promotional activities. Business confidence strengthened from April but was still below average. Caixin Composite PMI fell to 49.6, from 51.1 in April and was in contraction for first time since 2023 due to unexpected contraction in manufacturing activities. Caixin Insight Group economist highlighted unfavorable external trade environment and domestic economic headwinds. Called for evaluation of previously launched consumption stimulus measures and follow-ups to drive sustained economic recovery.

    • Asia sectoral PMIs show clear outperformance of services over manufacturing in May:

      • S&PGlobal sectoral analysis of its May Asia PMIs showed clear division of performance between expanding services and contracting manufacturing. Noted output growth seen in 11 of 18 sectors, lowest number in 18 months. Software & services saw expansion in output, new orders, employment; consumer services, industrial services also continued growth in major sub-components albeit at reduced pace from April. Among manufacturing sectors that contracted were construction materials, metals & mining and technology equipment. Said broad outlook expectations improved across most sectors following April's dip however overall sentiment remained below average for 2024. Employment stable overall but with notable declines in autos and construction materials, offset by expansion in software & services, pharma & bio, consumer services. April's country-based index prints showed either continued contraction or slowdown in growth such as in India although with stabilization trends visible.

    • Notable Gainers:

      • +11.2% 9069.JP (SENKO Group Holdings): holder Dalton Investments discloses 5.01% stake

      • +2.0% 1038.HK (CK Infrastructure Holdings): MTR reportedly considers acquiring Eversholt Rail

      • +1.1% 13.HK (Hutchmed): Hutchmed and Innovent Biologics note NDA acceptance by NMPA for fruquintinib combination with sintilimab for treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma

    • Notable Decliners:

      • -14.5% 489.HK (Dongfeng Motor Group): controlling shareholder Dongfeng Motor Corporation not currently involved in any restructuring of relevant assets or business operations

      • -4.8% 6178.JP (Japan Post Holdings): Japan MLIT reportedly to revoke business license of Japan Post due to irregularities

      • -3.1% 6532.JP (BayCurrent Inc): founder Arata Eguchi cuts stake to 8.03% from 9.05%

  • Data:

    • Economic:

      • China May

        • Caixin services PMI 51.1 vs consensus 51.1 and 50.7 in prior month

          • Caixin Composite PMI 49.6 vs 51.1 in prior month

      • Japan April

        • Average nominal wages +2.3% y/y vs consensus +2.6% and revised +2.3% in prior month

          • Real wages (1.8%) y/y vs consensus (1.6%) and revised (1.8%) in prior month

      • Australia April

        • Household spending +0.1% m/m vs consensus +0.2% and (0.3%) in March

          • Household spending +3.7% y/y vs consensus +3.6% and +3.5% in March

        • Trade balance A$5.41B vs consensus A$6.00B and revised A$$6.89B in March

          • Exports (2.4%) y/y vs +7.6% in March

          • Imports +1.1% y/y vs (2.2%) in March

      • South Korea Q1

        • Revised GDP (0.2%) q/q vs preliminary (0.2%) and +0.1% in prior quarter

          • GDP 0.0% y/y vs preliminary (0.1%) and revised +1.1% in prior quarter

      • Singapore April

        • Retail sales nominal y/y +0.3% versus +1.3% in prior month

    • Markets:

      • Nikkei: (192.96) or (0.51%) to 37554.49

      • Hang Seng: 252.94 or +1.07% to 23906.97

      • Shanghai Composite: 7.90 or +0.23% to 3384.10

      • Shenzhen Composite: 10.52 or +0.53% to 2010.13

      • ASX200: (2.90) or (0.03%) to 8538.90

      • KOSPI: 41.21 or +1.49% to 2812.05

      • SENSEX: 467.14 or +0.58% to 81465.39

    • Currencies:

      • $-¥: +0.49 or +0.35% to 143.2770

      • $-KRW: (3.61) or (0.27%) to 1358.3700

      • A$-$: +0.00 or +0.16% to 0.6503

      • $-INR: (0.19) or (0.22%) to 85.7107

      • $-CNY: (0.00) or (0.05%) to 7.1813

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