European Market Update: European PMI Services exhibited record lows; Obama: All things are possible in America

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European Market Update: European PMI Services exhibited record lows; Obama: All things are possible in America

05.11.2008 16:32 Wednesday

*** ECONOMIC DATA ***

- (UK) Oct HBOS House prices M/M: % v -1.5%e; Y/Y: % v -13.3%e

- (SP) Spanish October PMI Services: 32.2 v 36.1 prior

- (IT) Italian Oct PMI Services: 45.7 v 47.5e

- (FR) French Oct Final PMI Services: 47.5 v 48.8e (equals all-time low reading)

- (GE) German Oct PMI Services:48.3 v 49.7e

- (EU) Oct Final PMI Services: 45.8 v 46.9e; PMI Composite: 43.6 v 44.6e

- (UK) Sept Industrial Production M/M: -0.2% v -0.2%e; Y/Y: -2.2% v -2.2%

- (UK) Sept Manufacturing Production M/M: -0.8% v -0.3%e; Y/Y: -2.3% v -1.6%

- (UK) Oct PMI Services: 42.3 v 44.5e; lowest reading on record

- (EC) Euro-zone Sept Retail Sales M/M: -0.2% v -0.4%e; Y/Y: -1.6% v -2.2%e

- (UK) BRC October Shop Price Index M/M: -0.1% v 0.5% prior; Y/Y: 3.0% v 3.8% prior

 

*** SPEAKERS/FIXED INCOME/FX/COMMODITIES/ERRATUM ***

- In equities, Arcelor [MTP.FR] reported Q3 net came in at $3.82B, well below expectations of $5.91B, while revenues of $35.2B also missed consensus forecasts of $38.8B by a wide margin. The firm guided Q4 and full year EBITDA well below expecations and announced temporary output reductions citing the need for accelerated inventory reduction. It will cut stainless steel production by 30%; cut Q4 Flat carbon US production by over 35%, European production by over 30%; cut Q4 crude steel production by 9M tons cut Q4 long carbon production by around 30% and Cut Asia, Afrca, CIS production by over 35%. The company does not see recovery in stainless steel markets but expected to change growth strategy inline with market conditions. The company maintained its 3% to 5% annual steel growth outlook but noted that steel demand to remain week into early 2009 but that its growth assessment applies once "Unusual Situation" has passed. It saw steel Demand Stabilizing in 2009. || Total [FP.FR] reported Q3 Net €3.05Bbelow estimates of €3.78B, but its revenues exceeded expectations with €48.8B above the €45.59B estimates. || BNP Paribas [BNP.FR] reported Q3 Net €901M v €1.09Be, Rev €7.61B v €7.28Be. Current environment remained difficult but would be able to continue to finance the real economy. Its Tier 1 ratio 7.6% || Hannover Re [HNR1.GE] reported Q3 Net -€395M worse than the -€228.3M estimates. The company noted that would break even in Q4 and saw good prospects next year. worsening of the crisis on international financial markets as well as a higher-than-average burden of catastrophe losses have taken an appreciable toll on the company's result. CFO noted that it would not pay dividend for the full year. || Rheinmetall [RHM.GE] did not expect to reach FY sales and profit forecast and lowered them by 10%. It guided FY08 EBIT in a range of €250-260M versus €255M estimates with Automotive EBIT at €80M; and Defense EBIT at least €180M. It did not that 2009 would be a tough year for the industry and that it was Impossible for reliable targets for automotive sector. || Allied Irish bank [ALBK.UK] provided interim management report, noting that all businesses continue to perform well but that the credit environment continues to deteriorate. Asset quality deteriorated, there was a ROI bad debt charge 250bps on property loans but it added that the Irish guarantee will support activity and its funding position remained strong. || SABMiller and Molson Coors US JV reported Q3 net income $191M (ex items) v $149M y/y, revenue was $1.95B v $1.91B y/y. || Shaeffler may be considering selling its stake in Continental [CON.G], citing that the economic crisis, which has stretched its ability of to acquire its larger rival. || Commerzbank [CBK.GE] said it ees net interest income rising in full year and believes it will come out of financial market crisis in a strengthened position. || Balfour Beatty [BBY.UK] was awarded £335M for multiple contracts in the US and HK. || Redrow [RDW.UK] noted that housing activity remains subdued and outlook for 2009 is below prior expectations. || Sekunjalo purchased a 30% stake in BT Group's [BT.UK] South African unit for ZAR27M in cash. || Carlsberg [CARLB.DC] reported lower Q3 results and cut its fiscal year outlook. The company announced cut jobs and the closing of a UK facility amid deteriorating' markets in northern and western Europe.

 

- In speakers, Japanese PM Aso said Japan would provide support for the dollar over the short term. || Sweden's Riksbank noted that its decision to cut interest rates by 50bps back on Oct 23rd was unanimous, saying that it could cut rates without harming price stability. || The ECB's Bini Smaghi noted that market regulations should not be excessive. || IG Metall Union Chief Huber warned that nationwide strikes could begin in Germany on Nov 17 if wage talks do not come to fruition.

 

- In currencies, the EUR/USD is consolidating in a 1.28-1.29 range during the European session. Dealers are noting that the two-year US/German spread has widened over the last 24 hours to around 107 bps. Japan's ex finance minister Sakakibara, aka Mr. Yen, noted that the JPY could rise to 80 against USD over the next three or four months, adding that EUR/JPY could fall to 100-110 during the same period. He believes that Japan is tempted to intervene if USD/JPY if it falls into the 80s but suggested that the government shouldn't intervene in the unwinding of the yen carry trade.

 

- In fixed income, gilts and bunds are yielding lower, with curves steeper again. The five-year gilt was briefly below 5.63%, its lowest yield since June 2003. Short sterling futures are pricing in a 55% chance of a 50bps cate at tomorrow's BoE meeting, while front-month three-month Euribor futures are fully pricing in a 75% chance of a 25bps cut at the ECB meeting shortly thereafter. The UK sold an additional £250M of the 1.25% 2055 linkers with a bid to cover of 2.10, less than the previous 2.28. Sweden tapped SEK2B of the 4.25% 2019 bonds with a bid to cover of 2.01, lower than the previous 2.08. US Treasuries, meanwhile, are marginally flatter, with the two-year note up 4bps to 1.41%, the ten-year note up 3bps to 3.75%. The Wall Street Journal said steep yield curve suggests economic recovery may take time. The article looks at the sharp decline in short term US treasury yields, which are most sensitive to changes in monetary policy, and notes that the broader economy is not benefiting from lower rates due to concerns in interbank lending markets about counter party risk, which in turn impedes consumer borrowing. The article noted similar steepening in German, Japanese and UK yield curves. The US 2y-10y spread traded at 248bps briefly on Monday , its widest level since 2003. In other news, Sweden said it would sell SEK2B 4.25% 2019 bonds, while the UK's DMO sold £250M of 1.25% 2055 linkers with a bid-to-cover of 2.1 times. Real yield was 0.8%.

 

- In energy, Deputy Russian PM Sechin pledged that Russia would work with OPEC while maintaining independent operations. Iran reiterated it would respond to any challenge to its borders from the US, noting that American helicopters came near its airspace close to the Iraqi border recently. Shell [RDSA.UK] declared force majeure on Nigerian exports, citing the recent output reduction imposed by OPEC nations.

 

- In the credit crisis, Switzerland confirmed that it would raise bank deposit guarantee to CHF100K from CHF30K prior. || China's PBoC is mulling plans to help some foreign banks with their funding difficulties in interbank money market. || Switzerland is boosting its bank deposits guarantee to CHF100K from CHF30K prior. It noted that it remain committed to guarantee Swiss banks capital markets if necessary || The Swiss National Bank noted that the bailout could encourage financial companies to take more risks and could end up being counter productive in the long term. The existing regulatory framework is inadequate and new ones would include caps on allowable debt-to-equity ranges

 

***Notes***

- Capping a history-making race, Barak Obama was elected as the 44th President of the United States. If America can change its political landscape, there is hope that the task of recovering from this current phase financial and economic malaise is possible. But the election results failed to mask efforts needed to implement the necessary medicine to avoid any global recession. The European Services PMI highlighted the need for additional interest rate cuts by the BoE and ECB. The PMI data registered all-time and multi-year lows across the board in this data series. The BoJ's Shirakawa stressed that its economic outlook was uncertain and that it should focus on its downside risks. However, the Australian trade balance for Sept was the highest in over 10 years with both exports and imports rising. One dealer noted that perhaps this was a potential bullish sign for infrastructure plays everywhere. Dealers are noting that overall price action in equities, commodities and currencies continues to be fixated on risk appetite and leveraging/de-leveraging mentality as year-end approaches with less and less liquidity around making way for choppy price action. Thus dealers noting that such conditions causing sessions to endure continued one way moves. The Swiss Gov't confirmed raising bank deposit guarantees to CHF100K from CHF30K prior

 

- Looking ahead, Wednesday morning will see earnings data from Agrium Inc (AGU), Duke Energy (DUK), Foster Wheeler (FWLT), Medco (MHS), Time Warner (TWX), Preliminary jobs data from ADP and Non-Manufacturing ISM for release ahead of Wednesday's US session will also likely determine equity market trading sentiment.

- 7:00 (US) MBA Mortgage Applications w/e Oct 31. There are no consensus expectations for this number; The prior number was 16.8%.

- 7:30 (US) Challenger Job Cuts Y/Y there are no consensus expectations for this number; The prior number was 32.6%.

- 8:15 (US) ADP Employment Change. Consensus expectations are -100k ; The prior number was -8k

- 10:00 (US) ISM Non-Manufacturing NMI sa. Consensus expectations are 47 ; The prior number was 50.2


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