- This is the largest debt issuance since 2008 financial crisis- Trump threatens trade war with its biggest creditor - China- Bond auctions have seen weak demand due to large supply and trade war concerns- $20 trillion mark reached in early September 2017; $1 trillion added in just 6 months- US total national debt level now exceeds $21.05 trillion and is accelerating higher- U.S. debt and dolla...Read More

* PREVIOUS TRADING SESSION MOVES:* SSEC +1.2 pct, CSI300 +1.4 pct, HSI +0.2 pct* Shanghai->HK daily quota used 7.2 pct* Shenzhen->HK daily quota used 11.2 pct* CNY official close 6.289 per dollar* FTSE China A50 +2.1 pct, BNY Mellon ADR China Select Index +1.8 pctSHANGHAI, March 30 (Reuters) - Following is a list of recent corporate and policyannouncements, as well as other news that might a...Read More

By Jonathan StempelNEW YORK, March 29 (Reuters) - HSBC Holdings Plc has agreed to pay $100 million to end private U.S. litigationaccusing it of conspiring to manipulate the Libor benchmarkinterest rate, becoming the fourth major bank to settle.The preliminary accord with "over-the-counter" investorsthat transacted directly with banks on a panel to determineLibor, or the London Interbank...Read More

(Reuters) - There will be no Australia and New Zealand stockmarket report on Friday (March 30) and Monday (April 2) asfinancial markets in both countries will be closed for holidays.Reuters will resume coverage of Australia and New Zealandstock markets on Tuesday, April 3. Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The aut...Read More

TOKYO,March 30 (Reuters) - Japan's benchmark Nikkei average opened up 1.10 percent at 21,392.42 on Friday, while the broader Topix gained 0.82 percent to 1,718.03. (Reporting by Tokyo markets team) Keywords: MARKETS JAPAN STOCKS/OPEN Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accu...Read More

March 30 (Reuters) -For other diaries, please see: Top Economic Events Emerging Markets Economic Events Government Debt Auctions Political and General News U.S. Federal Reserve Today in Washington DATECOUNTRYAUCTION DETAILS 3-AprBelgiumAuction of Treasury bills 3-AprJapan3-month discount bill auction 3-AprJapanAuction of 10-year government bonds 3-AprSpainAuction of 6- and 12-month Treasury bills...Read More

March 30 (Reuters) -For other diaries, please see: Top Economic Events Emerging Markets Economic Events Government Debt Auctions Political and General News U.S. Federal Reserve Today in Washington ----------------------------------------------------------- This Diary is filed daily. ** Indicates new events ----------------------------------------------------------- TUESDAY, APRIL 3SINGAPORE - Sing...Read More

March 30 (Reuters) -For other diaries, please see: Top Economic Events Emerging Markets Economic Events Government Debt Auctions Political and General News U.S. Federal Reserve Today in Washington ----------------------------------------------------------- This Diary is filed daily. ** Indicates new events -----------------------------------------------------------MONDAY, APRIL 2DULUTH, United Sta...Read More

* February industrial output lower than eyed, +4.1% m/m against +5%expected.* Data still relatively good, January saw revised decline of 6.8%.* Manufacturers eye March +0.9% (previous -2.7%) and April +5.2% - bothgood.* Stronger JPY not having as large an effect as previously thought.* That said, stronger JPY usually means cap on exports and, hence, output.<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^...Read More

TOKYO, March 30 (Reuters) - Japan's industrial output rose4.1 percent in February from the previous month, government datashowed on Friday, in a sign of a recovery in corporate activity.The rise compared with a median forecast for a 5.0 percentincrease and followed a revised 6.8 percent decline in January.Manufacturers surveyed by the Ministry of Economy, Trade andIndustry expect output to rise 0....Read More

* Tokyo core CPI in March +0.8% y/y and slightly below forecasts.* Core CPI still less than half way to BoJ's 2% inflation target.* Suggestion is BoJ likely to remain ultra-easy indefinitely.* Recently stronger JPY biasing prices lower - imports simply cost less.* March Tokyo overall CPI +1.0% y/y, ex-fresh food/energy +0.5%.<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^USD/JPY: ^...Read More

(Adds analyst comment, details)* Feb factory output +1.1 pct m/m s/adj (Reuters poll -0.5pct)* Feb factory output -6.4 pct y/y (Reuters poll -3.1 pct)By Cynthia Kim and Dahee KimSEOUL, March 30 (Reuters) - South Korea's industrial outputunexpectedly rose in February asrobust overseas demandcontinued to boost production of memory chips and cars in a signfactory activity remained brisk.Statistics Ko...Read More

* Jobs data for February mixed, unemployment 2.5% against 2.6% eyed.* Key jobs-applicants ratio off touch to 1.58 from Jan 1.59, but 1.60 eyed.* Despite push down in jobs-applicants ratio, still at relatively highlevel.* Unemployment too better than eyed and still very low, January 2.4%.* Ageing population and demand to keep labor market tight.* Indications however many firms increasingly turning...Read More

(Attaches to additional alerts)TOKYO, March 30 (Reuters) - Core consumer prices in Tokyorose 0.8 percent in March from a year earlier, government datashowed on Friday.The core consumer price index for Japan's capital, whichincludes oil products but excludes fresh food prices, comparedwith economists' median estimate for a 0.9 percent annual rise.(For queries, contact Stanley White at:stanley.white...Read More

* USD/JPY in 106.27-93 range yesterday, inside day likely today, GoodFriday.* Tokyo only major market open till New York, players here await BoJ Tankan.* Monday's Tankan to show business mood slightly down? JPY strength afactor.* Option expiries today-Monday sparse, 104.75-105.00, 106.00-10, not large.* US yields sag again overnight, Treasury 10s @2.740%, Nikkei likely soft.* Market likely very th...Read More

TOKYO, March 30 (Reuters) - Japan's jobless rate inched upin February and the availability of jobs slipped, governmentdata showed on Friday.The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 2.5percent from 2.4 percent in January, and compared witheconomists' median forecast of 2.6 percent, figures from theInternal Affairs ministry showed.The jobs-to-applicants ratio fell to 1.58 from 1.59 inJanuar...Read More

TOKYO, March 30 (Reuters) - Core consumer prices in Tokyo rose 0.8 percent in March from a year earlier, government data showed on Friday.The core consumer price index for Japan's capital, which includes oil products but excludes fresh food prices, compared with economists' median estimate for a 0.9 percent annual rise.(For queries, contact Stanley White at: stanley.white@thomsonreuters.com; +81 3...Read More

There will be no Asia Morning Call report on Friday, March 30,as most markets are closed for holidays.The report will resume from Monday, April 2. Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can gua...Read More

SEOUL, March 30 (Reuters) - Details of South Korea's February industrialactivity, retail sales and investment data, released on Friday by StatisticsKorea (percentage change unless stated, month-on-month changes seasonallyadjusted): FebJan*Y/Y M/M Y/Y M/M Industrial output -6.4+1.1+4.3+0.9 Manufacturing ex-factory-8.4 ~+2.8 ~ shipmentsShipments for domestic-6.7 ~+3.9 ~ market Shipments for exports...Read More

(Adds details on funds, analyst quote, table, byline)By Trevor HunnicuttNEW YORK, March 29 (Reuters) - U.S. fund investors drainedthe most cash from the stock market since early February'smarket meltdown, dodging declines while making a tactical bet onfallen technology companies, Lipper data released on Thursdayshowed.More than $14 billion rolled out of the funds during theweek ended March 28, acc...Read More