MORNING REPORT
(7am AEST)

The ADP employment report confirmed another substantial gain in private sector jobs of 209k in March. The February reading was revised up to 230k. The ISM non-manufacturing report eased from 57.3 to 56.0 in March. The business activity index slipped from 61.2 to 58.9, with the new orders index also falling from 61.2 to 58.8.

The ECB left its refi rate unchanged at 1.0pct at its fourth policy meeting of 2012. Again there was no discussion of the need for further monetary policy easing. The ECB Governing Council still expects a "moderate recovery in activity" in the course of the year, although the economic outlook remains subject to "downside risks."

The Spanish government auctioned €2.6 billion of bonds maturing in 2015, 2016 and 2020. Bid-cover ratios were respectable at 2.41, 2.46 and 2.96 respectively. But yields were significantly higher than at auctions in March, explaining why the Spanish Treasury chose to sell just €2.6 billion compared to a maximum target of €3.5 billion.

European shares fell to two-month lows on Wednesday, after the disappointing Spanish debt auction reignited fears about the euro zone debt crisis. The Euro zone banking index fell 3.1pct. The FTSEurofirst 300 index fell 2pct. The German Dax lost 2.8pct and the UK FTSE fell 2.3pct.

US sharemarkets retreated on Wednesday, with investors still digesting the Fed´s stance on less stimulus. In addition the rise in Spanish bond yields added to investor concerns. The S&P materials sector fell by 1.4pct. The CBOE Volatility index or ´´fear gauge´´ rose 5.4pct. At the close, the Dow Jones was lower by 109pts or 0.8pct with the S&P 500 down by 0.9pct and the Nasdaq fell 42pts or 1.4pct.

US treasuries rose on Wednesday (yields lower) as the stock market selloff enticed buyers to switch to safe-haven assets. US 2yr yields were lower by 3pts to 0.35pct and US 10yr yields fell by 8pts to 2.23pct.

The Euro fell to three week lows against the US dollar on Wednesday. The Euro fell from highs around US$1.3210 to near US$1.3110, and was close to US$1.3140 in late US trade. The Aussie dollar fell from highs near US102.90 to lows around US102.40c and was near US102.55c. And the Japanese yen strengthened from 82.75 yen per US dollar to JPY82.10 and was near JPY82.40 in late US trade.

Benchmark crude oil prices fell for a second straight session on Wednesday after the release of the latest inventory. US crude oil inventories soared by 16.1 million barrels in the second half of March - the largest two week gain since 2001. US Nymex crude fell by US$2.54 or 2.4pct to US$101.47 a barrel while London Brent crude fell by US$2.52 to US$122.34 a barrel.

Base metal prices were weaker on Wednesday following the broad retreat from risk assets and a day after the US Fed dashed hopes of further stimulus. Copper lost 3.2pct - its most in nearly two months. The gold price slumped on Wednesday with the June Comex gold price down by US$57.90 or 3.5pct to US$1,614.10 an ounce - its lowest level in nearly three months.

Ahead: In Australia, no economic data is released. In the US, no economic data is released.