Asian Stocks Outside Japan Gain Fourth Day Before Yellen Speech

A gauge of Asian stocks outside Japan rose, extending gains into a fourth day and heading for a two-week high, before Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen delivers her first testimony on monetary policy.

Zijin Mining Group Co. (2899), China’s biggest gold producer, jumped 3.7 percent in Hong Kong as the bullion’s price in Shanghai rallied to the highest this year. Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd., Australia’s third-largest bank by market value, rose 2.2 percent after posting a 13 percent jump in first-quarter cash profit. Cochlear Ltd. sank 9.8 percent in Sydney after reporting first-half results and a second-half estimate that suggest the maker of hearing implants will miss its full-year profit forecast.

The MSCI Asia Pacific excluding Japan Index advanced 0.6 percent to 447.29 as of 9:41 a.m. in Hong Kong. The regional gauge has climbed 2.8 percent from a five-month low on Feb. 5 as equities rebounded from a global rout. Yellen will speak on monetary policy and the outlook for the economy today for the first time since being sworn in as the central bank’s head. Japanese markets are closed for a holiday.

The gauge of Asia-Pacific equities outside Japan dropped 5.2 percent in January for its worst start to a year since 2010 amid concern about the Fed’s stimulus cuts, China’s slowdown and volatility in developing markets. Global equity losses in 2014 peaked at $3 trillion on Feb. 4 and have since narrowed to $1.6 trillion, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

(Source: Bloomberg)

Aussie Stays Higher After Biggest Weekly Advance in Five Months

Jalatama - Australia’s dollar remained higher following its biggest weekly advance in five months before local data this week that may show home prices climbed to a record and employment increased.

Yields on the nation’s three-year government notes touched a one-month high last week as the Reserve Bank of Australia raised its economic growth and inflation forecasts, damping speculation the RBA will cut borrowing costs. Demand for the Aussie and New Zealand dollars was supported after gains in stocks globally boosted the allure of higher-yielding assets.

The Aussie traded at 89.49 U.S. cents as of 11:23 a.m. in Sydney after strengthening 2.3 percent last week, the most since the period ended Sept. 6, to 89.59. It reached 89.99 U.S. cents on Feb. 7, the highest since Jan. 14. New Zealand’s kiwi dollar weakened 0.1 percent to 82.85 U.S. cents.

Australia’s three-year yields fell one basis point to 2.99 percent after rising to as high as 3.03 percent at the end of last week, a level unseen since Jan. 10.

The statistics bureau will probably say tomorrow that its index of home prices in Australia rose 3 percent in the October-December period to the highest on record dating back to 2002, according to the median estimate of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News.

A separate report from the bureau is forecast to show the number of people employed rose 15,000 in January. It unexpectedly dropped 22,600 in December, the first decrease in four months.

The MSCI World Index of shares gained 1.2 percent on Feb. 7 as a government report showed the U.S. jobless rate declined to 6.6 percent, the lowest since October 2008.

(Source: Bloomberg)

Aussie Volatility Near 4-Month High Before RBA as Shares Tumble

The expected fluctuation of the Australian dollar rose toward the highest in more than four months as traders weighed prospects for the Reserve Bank to scrap its easing bias while emerging markets drop.

The Aussie was little changed after posting the biggest weekly gain in four weeks. Swap levels show there’s 97 percent odds the Reserve Bank of Australia will keep rates on hold at 2.5 percent today. The RBA will release its quarterly statement on policy on Feb. 7. New Zealand’s dollar fell to the lowest since September after Finance Minister Bill English said the government is “not comfortable” with the currency’s strength.

One-month implied volatility for the Aussie versus the greenback rose 24 basis points to 10.72 percent from yesterday, when it touched 10.80 percent, the most since Sept. 30. A basis point is 0.01 percentage point.

The Aussie declined 0.1 percent to 87.44 U.S. cents as of 12:29 p.m. in Sydney. The currency rose 0.1 percent to 88.45 yen from yesterday, when it dropped 1.1 percent. Australia’s dollar added 0.2 percent to NZ$1.0842, after touching NZ$1.0877 yesterday, the highest level since Jan. 3.

The kiwi fell 0.3 percent to 80.65 U.S. cents, after earlier touching the weakest since Sept. 11 at 80.52. The currency bought 81.57 yen from 81.63 yesterday, after reaching 81.47, the lowest since Nov. 12.

The BOJ’s easing has had the intended impact so far, Governor Haruhiko Kuroda told Japanese parliament today. Annual inflation will accelerate toward the central bank’s goal of 2 percent from the end of the current fiscal year in March 2015 to the following 12-month period, Kuroda said.

The 14-day relative strength index of dollar-yen was at 33 yesterday, the most oversold since June. The same gauge for euro-yen dropped to 27 yesterday, the lowest since June 2012. A reading below 30 is seen by some traders as a sign that an asset price has fallen too far, too rapidly and is poised to reverse.

(Source: Bloomberg)