Late in the US session brought the weekly oil inventory private survey from API. This showed that U.S. crude oil, gasoline and distillate stocks all rose last week. Crude stocks rose by more than 4 million barrels in the week ended May 31, against analysts' forecasts for a circa 2 million-barrel draw. Gasoline stocks also rose more than 4 million barrels, a much bigger build than the 2 million-barrel increase expected. Quite the bearish surprises. The official US government inventory report for the week is due Wednesday morning US time, at 10am Eastern.

Oil prices dipped, but have since retraced.

Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Bullock spoke in parliament today, before an upper house Economics Legislation Committee. Bullock didn’t add to what we already know.

Japanese wages data for April followed, base pay jumped by its largest since 1994. Efforts by the Japanese administration and large firms to grant three-decade high wage rises are showing up in the data. Having said this, inflation-adjusted, ‘real’, wages fell for the 25th consecutive month. USD/JPY has risen on the session, retracing a portion of its big fall on Tuesday. Japanee importers notable bids today.

Australian Q1 GDP came in lower than consensus expectations at just +0.1% q/q / +1.1% y/y. The implied RBA estimate was around +1.3%. In per capita terms the economy shrunk (-0.4% q/q and -1.0% y/y). If there is a positive to come from the data its that household spending (a surprise jump) was resilient. The savings rate did decline though, indicating a further run-down of extra savings accumulated during the pandemic.

AUD/USD popped a little higher after the data (NZD/USD up also), with some citing the better household spending data in the numbers as a reason for the RBA to be not too concerned with cutting rates soon.

China's services PMI (Caixin) in May accelerated at its fastest rate in 10 months. Employment expanded for the first time in four months.

Apart from JPY and AUD already mentioned there isn’t much to report on major FX rates. GBP inched a little stronger against the dollar. EUR/USD is little changed, as is USD/CAD ahead of the Bank of Canada decision due today (previews above).

USD_JPY hourly candles wrap 05 June 2024 2