ASIA STOCKS: Asia Equities Mixed, HK Tech Outperforms, RBA Shortly
Asian equities are mixed today with ranges narrow ahead of the RBA’s policy decision. Hong Kong stocks extended gains, with the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index rising as much as 1% early in the session, driven by tech stocks like Alibaba and Xiaomi. Optimism grew following President Xi Jinping’s meeting with business leaders, signaling a more supportive stance toward the private sector.
- Japan’s markets advanced, with the Nikkei rising 0.40%, supported by gains in defense stocks after European Union leaders discussed increasing military spending. Tech shares also rallied amid expectations that China may ease regulatory pressure on the sector.
- Hong Kong listed equities continue to outperform their mainland peers, with the HSI up 1.20%, while the CSI 300 trades little changed for the session
- Taiwan's TAIEX in unchanged today, while South Korea's KOSPI is 0.20% higher
- Australia’s ASX200 is 0.50% lower as investors awaited the RBA’s policy decision, the AUD is holding near a two-month high. Meanwhile, BHP’s first half profit fell 23%, with weak Chinese demand for iron ore and copper, hurting results
In broader markets, the USD strengthened, while oil held its gains after reports that OPEC+ may delay output increases and Ukrainian drone attacks hit a Russian crude-pumping station.
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MNI: US TSY TICS NET FLOWS IN NOV +$159.9B
- MNI: US TSY TICS NET FLOWS IN NOV +$159.9B
- US TSY TICS NET L-T FLOWS IN NOV +$79.0B
US TSYS: Tsy Curves Twist Flatter, Heavy Short End Sales Ahead Inauguration
- Treasuries look to finish mixed Friday, well off early session highs with heavy short end selling weighing across the strip while curves twisted flatter (2s10s -4.357 at 33.679, 5s30s -2.657 at 43.037).
- Massive -46k Mar'25 2Y futures sale triggered a broad based reversal by midmorning, while morning headlines that incoming President Trump held a call with China President Xi elevated volatility. Descriptions of a positive tone for China/US relations provided a boost for the Chinese Yuan.
- A surprise $10B 5-tranche debt issuance from Bank of America contributed to selling in rates.
- Generally positive data: Industrial production surprisingly jumped 0.9% M/M (cons 0.3) in Dec after an upward revised 0.2% M/M (initial -0.1%). Utilities may have helped with their 2.1% M/M increase (strongest since May) but manufacturing production was also stronger than expected with 0.6% M/M (cons 0.2%) after an upward revised 0.4% M/M (initial 0.2%).
- Building permits were a little higher than expected in December at 1483k (cons 1460k) for little change from 1493k in Nov. Housing starts meanwhile, which are more prone to weather disruption, surprisingly jumped to 1499k (cons 1327k) after 1294k in Nov.
- Reminder, the Federal Reserve enters their policy Blackout at midnight tonight through January 30.
- Corporate earnings pick up in earnest next week, headliners expected to announce next Tuesday include KeyCorp, DR Horton Inc, Charles Schwab, Prologis Inc and 3M Co before the market opens, Fifth Third Bancorp, Netflix Inc, Interactive Brokers, United Airlines, Seagate Technology and Capital One Financial after the market closes.
US TSYS: Late SOFR/Treasury Option Roundup
Large SOFR & Treasury put flow reported Friday after leaning toward upside calls overnight (note late Thursday evening buy of 20k Feb 10Y 108.75 calls - expire next Friday). Over 60,000 TYG5 108.5 puts bought on the day, Mar'25 30Y put spread buying. Underlying futures reversed early highs, partially data driven. Projected rate cuts through mid-2025 cooling again, current lvls vs. Friday morning* as follows: Jan'25 at -0.1bp, Mar'25 at -7.5bp (-8bp), May'25 -12.9bp (-14.6bp), Jun'25 -22.3bp (-24.6bp), Jul'25 at -26.1bp (-29.1bp).
- SOFR Options:
- +10,000 SFRZ5 96.00/96.50/97.00 call trees 3.5 ref 96.05
- +3,000 SFRM5 95.68/95.81 put spds vs 0QM5 95.81/95.93 put spds, 0.0
- +8,000 SFRH5 95.62/95.68 3x2 put spds 0.5 ref 95.785
- +4,000 SFRG5 95.62/95.68/95.75 put trees 1.5 ref 95.785
- +4,000 SFRK5 95.62/95.75 2x1 put spds, 1.0 ref 95.925
- +10,000 SFRZ5 96.00/96.50/97.00 call trees, 3.5 ref 96.05
- 2,000 3QH5 95.37/95.50/95.62/95.75 put condors ref 95.92
- 2,000 SFRZ5 95.12/95.75 put spds ref 96.05
- 2,000 SFRZ5 95.43/95.68 put spds ref 96.05
- 5,500 SFRH5/SFRU5 95.75/96.00 call spd spds
- 4,500 SFRJ5 95.75 puts ref 95.92
- Block, 6,000 2QH5 96.00/96.12 call spds 5.5 ref 95.995
- 3,000 SFRM55 96.00/96.12 call spds
- 2,600 SFRH5 95.75/95.87 call spds vs. SFRM5 95.87/96.00 call spds
- Treasury Options:
- 3,000 TYG5 110.25/111.5 1x2 call spds, ref 108-18
- 2,475 USH5 120 calls, 9 ref 113-00
- +12,000 TYH5 105/113 2x1 strangles, 15
- 11,900 TYG5 106/107 put spds
- 30,000 TYG5 108.5 puts, 21 vs. 108-18.5/0.47% (total volume over 60,000)
- 1,300 TYG5 107.5/108/108.5 put flys, ref 108-18
- 4,000 USH5 119/121/123/127 broken call condors ref 113-10
- 11,500 TYG5 108.5 puts, 14
- 15,000 USH5 106/108 put spds (open interest 30,19 and 19,346 respectively)
- 4,000 FVH5 106 puts, ref 106-08.25
- 7,000 TYH5 109.5/110.5 call spds
- Block, 4,500 FVG5 105.5/107.5 strangles 3.5 vs. FVH5 106.25 straddles 104.5
- 1,800 TYH5 106.5/108 put spds
- 2,600 TYG5 110 calls ref 108-20
- 2,500 wk3 TY 108.5/109 call spds ref 108-20.5 (expire today)
- 2,000 TYG5 108 puts, 9 ref 108-18.5
- 20,000 TYG 108.75 calls 18 (late Thursday evening) total volume near 23k
