Garnaut’s bitter pill must be swallowed | | MacroBusiness

Interesting quote from Professor Ross Garnaut in the AFR:

He [Professor Garnaut] said Australia’s terms of trade, or income from exports, would be hit by three “mutually reinforcing negatives” under way in China.

The first was a shift in China’s economy away from a focus on heavy industrial investment and exports, which have driven metals and energy demand. The second was a wave of internal reforms including the move towards lower carbon emissions that would cruel demand for Australian thermal coal. The third was the current “cyclical” downturn that was likely to continue.

“It’s an accident they’re coming all at once, but they are,” Professor Garnaut said

From Leith van Onselen at Garnaut’s bitter pill must be swallowed | | MacroBusiness.

China’s rail cargo volume declined further in August

by Zarathustra

Rail cargo volume growth fell further from -8.2% yoy in July to -9.2% yoy in August, worst since the financial crisis. Cargo volume transported by the railways amounted to 304 million tonnes in August 2012, slightly below 305 million tonnes in July.

via China’s rail cargo volume declined further in August.

Chinese Yuan hits highest level against USD, but PBOC wants it weaker

by Zarathustra

After a long period since late last year as Chinese Yuan was expected to depreciate, it appears that the expectation of Chinese Yuan appreciation is back on people’s mind. Chinese Yuan hits the highest level since the revaluation started in 2005, completely reversing the depreciation since earlier this year…..

via Chinese Yuan hits highest level against USD, but PBOC wants it weaker.

China Alters Its Strategy in Dispute With Japan – NYTimes.com

By JANE PERLEZ

Notions of punishing Tokyo economically for buying the islands, whose status was left unclear after World War II, are unrealistic, said Hu Shuli, editor in chief of Caixin Media and one of China’s chief economic journalists. So many Chinese workers are employed at Japanese-owned companies, she said, that any escalation of tensions leading to a boycott of Japanese goods could lead to huge job losses.

This would be disastrous in an already shaky Chinese economy, Ms. Hu wrote in the Chinese magazine Century Weekly……

via China Alters Its Strategy in Dispute With Japan – NYTimes.com.

Bachelor Padding – By Roseann Lake | Foreign Policy

By Roseann Lake

As a result of the real estate boom, reports in Chinese media indicate that the average property in a top-tier Chinese city now costs between 15 and 20 times the average annual salary, though J.P. Morgan reports indicate something closer to 13. For purposes of comparison, in most of the world’s cities, the housing-cost-to-income ratio hovers between 3-to-1 and 6-to-1, rounding out at about 3-to-1 in the United States. This is especially problematic in China, where thanks to still-prevalent Confucian ideals of the male as the “provider,” home ownership has become an unspoken prerequisite to marriage. It’s a tough, competitive life for men in China these days, in part due to the aftershocks of the one-child policy, which has left the country with a gaping gender imbalance of 120 boys for every 100 girls……

via Bachelor Padding – By Roseann Lake | Foreign Policy.

Asia: India strong but China, Japan weaken

China’s Shanghai Composite Index followed through below recent support at 2050. Declining 13-week Twiggs Money Flow, below zero, indicates selling pressure. Target for the decline is 1800*.

Shanghai Composite Index

* Target calculation: 2150 – ( 2500 – 2150 ) = 1800

South Korea’s Seoul Composite Index is headed for a test of 2050. The 13-week Twiggs Money Flow trough above zero suggests a primary up-trend. Breakout above 2050 would confirm.

Seoul Composite Index

* Target calculation: 2050 + ( 2050 – 1750 ) = 2350

India’s Sensex broke through 18500, confirming the primary up-trend. The trough above zero on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates buying pressure. Expect retracement to test the new support level.

Sensex Index

* Target calculation: 18.5 + ( 18.5 – 16.0 ) = 21.0

Singapore’s Straits Times Index is testing medium-term resistance at 3100. Rising 63-day Twiggs Momentum, above zero, indicates a primary up-trend.  Breakout above 3100 would indicate an advance to 3300*.

Singapore Straits Times Index

* Target calculation: 3000 + ( 3000 – 2700 ) = 3300

Japan’s Nikkei 225 retreated below the new support level at 9200. Reversal of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow below zero warns of a bull trap. Follow-through below 9000 would confirm.

Nikkei 225 Index

* Target calculation: 9200 + ( 9200 – 8200 ) = 10200

China, Japan and the world’s Agadir Crisis (1911) – Telegraph Blogs

By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard

The US has an impossible task maintaining “neutrality”, and Beijing knows it.

Washington guarantees Japan’s defence under its US nuclear umbrella. It uses military bases on Japanese soil as an unsinkable aircraft carrier. It works hand in glove with Tokyo in a tight military alliance.

The question is whether Washington is really willing to uphold the Japanese alliance as the going gets tougher. Will it let America to be led by the nose by Japanese nationalists into a clash that is not obviously – or immediately – in US national interest?

President Barack Obama faces the toughest diplomatic choice of any US leader since John Kennedy…….

via China, Japan and the world’s Agadir Crisis (1911) – Telegraph Blogs.

Asia Update

Dow Jones China index is retracing to test primary support at 245. Declining 63-day Twiggs Momentum, below zero, continues to indicate a primary down-trend. Failure of support would offer a target of 200*.

Dow Jones China Broad Index

* Target calculation: 250 – ( 300 – 250 ) = 200

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng penetrated the descending trendline at 22000, indicating an advance to 22000. Recovery of 63-day Twiggs Momentum above zero suggests a primary up-trend. Breakout above 22000 would confirm.

Hang Seng Index

India’s Sensex broke through 18500, confirming the primary up-trend. The trough above zero on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates buying pressure. Expect retracement to test the new support level.

Sensex Index

* Target calculation: 18.5 + ( 18.5 – 16.0 ) = 21.0

Singapore’s Straits Times Index respected support at 3000. Rising 63-day Twiggs Momentum, above zero, indicates a primary up-trend.  Follow-through above 3100 would indicate an advance to 3300*.

Singapore Straits Times Index

* Target calculation: 3000 + ( 3000 – 2700 ) = 3300

Japan’s Nikkei 225 is testing resistance at 9200. Breakout would signal a primary advance to 10200. Recovery of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow above zero indicates rising buying pressure.

Nikkei 225 Index

* Target calculation: 9200 + ( 9200 – 8200 ) = 10200

Why is China afraid of the Louisiana Purchase? | Foreign Policy

By Joshua Keating

The buying and selling of territory between states is a lot less common than it was in the days when European powers held vast overseas empires and there was significantly more terra nullius to be claimed….

On the other hand, given how many territorial disputes China is involved in at the moment, a study of how these conflicts have been resolved peacably in the past might not be a terrible idea.

via Why is China afraid of the Louisiana Purchase? | FP Passport.