Halister News

(Bloomberg) -- Yuan advances even though China’s manufacturing PMI comes in at 49.0 for February, less than median estimate of 49.4; non-manufacturing PMI slips to lowest level since December 2008 at 52.7; strong dollar may trigger crisis in emerging economies: PBOC Deputy Governor Chen; “reasonable” level for forex reserves is about $2t, Economic Information Daily says

• Aussie weakens versus dollar; Australian building approvals decreased 7.5% in January from month earlier, more than median estimate for 3.0% decline; central bank may keep policy rate unchanged today at 2.00%, according to all 27 economists surveyed by Bloomberg
• Yen rises for second day; Japan’s capital spending increased 8.5% in fourth quarter from year earlier, less than forecast 8.7% advance; jobless rate slipped to 3.2% in January from 3.3% in prior month and median estimate
• Kiwi snaps two-day decline; New Zealand’s terms of trade fell 2.0% in fourth quarter after declining revised 3.8% three months earlier
• Won steady; South Korean exports dropped 12.2% in February from year earlier versus estimate for 16.6% decline
• U.S. Treasuries rise, with yield on 10-year bonds sliding 3 bps to 1.707%; data today may show ISM manufacturing in the world’s largest economy rose to 48.5 in February from 48.2 in January, according to Bloomberg survey
• Ringgit gains for fourth day; hundreds of millions of dollars were deposited into Malaysian Prime Minister Najib’s accounts in 2011 and 2012, before $681 million already known in 2013, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing two people it didn’t identify
• Baht steady; Thailand’s consumer prices probably declined 0.51% in February from year earlier after falling 0.51% in January, according to Bloomberg survey
• Rupiah rises; Indonesia’s inflation may have accelerated to 4.36% in February from 4.14% in January, according to a Bloomberg survey before data today