US Equity FUTs Decline As Trump And First Lady Tested Positive For COVID-19

Oct 02 20, 06:00 GMT

General Trend

Topix Marine Transportation, Banks, Real Estate and Information/Communication indices are among the gainers, Pharma index declines
Fast Retailing is due to issue Sept sales figures after the Tokyo close
Decliners in Australia include Energy, Resources and Financial firms
Offshore yuan (CNH) declines after gain on Thursday, Chinese holiday continues
Shanghai markets are closed Oct 1-8th for holiday
Markets in South Korea and Hong Kong are due to resume trading on Monday (Oct 5th)
Australia begins daylight savings time on Oct 4th (Sunday)

Headlines/Economic Data

Australia/New Zealand

ASX 200 opened -0.2%
(AU) Australia sells A$500M v A$500M indicated in 3.25% June 2039 bonds, avg yield 1.4339%, bid to cover 2.5x
*(AU) AUSTRALIA AUG FINAL RETAIL SALES M/M: -4.0% V -4.2%E
(AU) Australia sells A$500M v A$500M indicated in 3.25% June 2039 bonds, avg yield 1.4339%, bid to cover 2.5x
(AU) Australia Council of Financial Regulators (CFR) Quarterly Statement: There have been some signs of tightening in availability of Credit, likely reflects changed trading conditions; The majority of loan deferrals expire in September and October
(AU) Victoria state (Australia) reports 7 additional coronavirus cases v 15 prior
(AU) Australia: Confirms quarantine free travel between Australia and New Zealand (Trans-Tasman bubble)
(NZ) New Zealand Sep ANZ Consumer Confidence: 100.0 v 100.2 prior
(NZ) Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) buys NZ$295M v NZ$399M prior in government bonds as part of QE v NZ$310M sought
(NZ) Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ): Will seek to purchase NZ$1.05B v NZ$1.35B prior in government bonds next week

China/Hong Kong

Hang Seng closed for holiday, Shanghai Composite closed for holiday
(CN) China Ambassador to US: US and China should lose no time in taking bilateral relations onto right track

Japan

Nikkei 225 opened +0.5%
(JP) Japan Fin Min Aso: Japan is not considering compiling third extra budget; Now is time to make full use of Emergency budget reserves to take care of coronavirus; still has not used all of the funds in the 2nd extra budget
*(JP) JAPAN AUG JOBLESS RATE: 3.0% V 3.0%E (highest level since May 2017)
*(JP) JAPAN SEPT CONSUMER CONFIDENCE: 32.7 V 30.5E
(JP) Japan Sept Monetary Base Y/Y: 14.3% v 11.5% prior
(JP) Japan Govt said to be preparing for additional stimulus package – Nikkei

Korea

Kospi closed for holiday
(KR) South Korea confirms 63 additional coronavirus cases v 77 prior; 1 additional deaths

Other Asia

North America

(US) PRESIDENT TRUMP TWEETS: TESTED POSITIVE FOR CORONAVIRUS
(US) One of President Trump’s aides [Hope Hicks] has tested positive for coronavirus, the aide is said to have previously traveled on Air Force One
(US) House Speaker Pelosi: Does not expect stimulus agreement tonight; To review Docs Mnuchin sent to her
(US) Senate Majority Leader McConnell: Support additional stimulus but it must be a narrow package; If Pelosi and Mnuchin agree to a deal, I will take a look
(US) House Democrats pass $2.2T stimulus bill; Republicans have rejected the bill
Mesoblast [MSB.AU, MESO]: Receives FDA Letter for recommendation of at least 1 additional randomized controlled study in adults or children for Remestemcel-L
*(AR) ARGENTINA CENTRAL BANK RAISES REPO RATE BY 500 BPS TO 24.0%; to end daily uniform devaluation mechanism

Levels as of 1:20 ET

Nikkei 225, -0.9%, ASX 200 -1.4% , Hang Seng closed; Shanghai Composite closed ; Kospi closed
Equity S&P500 Futures: -1.5%; Nasdaq100 -1.7%, Dax -0.9%; FTSE100 -1%
EUR 1.1750-1.1695 ; JPY 105.66-105.32 ; AUD 0.7190-0.7130 ;NZD 0.6656-0.6615
Gold -0.3% at $1,910/oz; Crude Oil -2.5% at $37.78/brl; Copper -1.2% at $2.8425/lb