Business

Expectations of a "less terrible" first quarter for banks may have been premature following yesterday's stronger than expected JPM earnings report. First it was both PNC and Blackrock missing on the top and bottom line, but the highlight of the day was Bank of America which moments ago reported $0.20 in EPS, missing expectations of a $0.21 print, while revenue ex-DVA dropped by $1.4 billion to $19.7 billion, also missing expectations of a $20bn print. BofA reported Net Income of $2.68 billion, down from $3.1 billion one year ago.

In another quiet overnight session, the biggest - and unexpected - macro news was the surprise monetary easing by Singapore which as previously reported moved to a 2008 crisis policy response when it adopted a "zero currency appreciation" stance as a result of its trade-based economy grinding to a halt.

Another Obama corporatocracy conspiracy theory becomes fact as The Boston Globe reports shoemaker 'New Balance' is renewing its opposition to the far-reaching Pacific Rim trade deal, saying the Obama administration reneged on a promise to give the sneaker maker a fair shot at military business if it stopped bad-mouthing the agreement.

After a brief hiatus during which central banks refrained from stimulating their economies by the only way they know how, i.e., devaluing their currency through monetary policy, moments ago Singapore broke ranks when its central bank, the Monetary Authority of Singapore, unexpectedly eased monetary policy and drew a line against further appreciation when it announced that it would move to zero-percent appreciation in its currency.