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Australia

Over the past few days the Australian Dollar has benefited from some positive sentiment, rallying the AUD across the board to reach to reach an eight week high of 0.7010 against the greenback. This week’s Reserve Bank of Australia is the main event on the Australian economic calendar publishing today at 4.30pm NZT. Market analysts seem to be split as to if Lowe will cut or keep the cash rate at its historical low of 1.25%. Certainly markets have had plenty of reasons to expect a cut but we are not so sure. The main RBA’s communication around employment has been clear with recent data showing a rise to 5.2% alarming analysts with the RBA looking for improvements to around 4.5%. Lowe said recently the June cut wouldn’t be enough to shift the current growth path with a cut today perhaps already been decided weeks ago. If we see a cut this will take the cash rate to 1.0% – fast running out of room for further cuts if the economy really turns pear shaped. On the flip side, a pause will allow for a more gradual cutting cycle, however with domestic and global growth forecasts to remain slow we will get ongoing debate as to further cuts, which could possibly lead to the RBA introducing unconventional monetary measures such as quantitative easing. Building Approvals and Retail Sales print later in the week and could shift the AUD.

New Zealand

the New Zealand Dollar has continued to push higher, earning the tag of most improved player of the week, with it outperformed all major currencies. With risk markets improving the kiwi gained to 72.65 or 2.5% against the safe haven Japanese Yen and 2% in the US Dollar ahead of the Friday close. This week’s economic docket is light with only (NZIER) NZ Institute of Economic Research –  Business Confidence the focus. That survey was released this morning and it printed at a 9 year low. This makes another interest rate cut at next month’s RBNZ meeting almost certain. In this environment the NZD should struggle to make further significant gains. US and Chinese officials look to have finally shaken hands at the G20 meeting over the weekend with Trump agreeing to halt a further trade war escalation by re kindling positive negotiations. The Global Dairy Auctions are Wednesday with projections we could get a similar poor result to last fortnight (-3.8%) on the index. Read more

Below are the weekly economic releases for this week (NZT)

Monday 01/07

• 145pm, CNY, Caixin Manufacturing PMI
  • Forecast 50.1
  • Previous 50.2

Tuesday 02/07

• All Day, All, OPEC Meetings
• All Day, CAD, Bank Holiday
• 2am, USD, ISM Manufacturing PMI
  • Forecast 51.3
  • Previous 52.1
• 430pm, AUD, Cash Rate
  • Forecast 1.00%
  • Previous 1.25%
• 430pm, AUD, RBA Rate Statement

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The RBNZ left the official cash rate unchanged at 1.50% Wednesday. With subdued domestic growth and a weaker global economic outlook a lower cash rate should be required to meet the RBNZ goals. Domestic growth has slowed with the services sector, and house prices have continued to dampen spending. Inflation is expected to rise to around 2.0% target range supporting growth with employment to stay at the maximum sustainable levels for a while longer. Overall the RBNZ said the outlook for the domestic economy has softened compared to May projections with a lower OCR rate more than likely needed and should be cut again on the 8 August meeting. The New Zealand Dollar dropped half a cent on the release taking out a bunch of market longs (long NZD trades) to 0.6595 against the US Dollar before retracing higher to post a fresh high just shy of 0.6700. With Gold higher, Crude Oil higher and Iron Ore prices charging to 110.00 per tone the Australian Dollar also has outperformed this week, the kiwi has mostly travelled with it – the main reason we see a perky NZD after the published RBNZ dovish statement.  Read more

Australia

RBA’s Lowe spoke on a panel in Canberra Monday saying “Global risk has slowed with risks skewed to the downside”. The ECB is a potential fly in the growth ointment with this region struggling more than others. He went on to say if all central banks are easing this would have no real net impact on the Australian Dollar. As market participants weigh up a July rate cut by the RBA the Aussie Dollar should remain in relatively tight ranges. If anything based on a lack of economic data this week we may see the Aussie Dollar squeeze higher. The G20 meeting in Osaka starts Friday and may affect risk currencies if the unexpected eventuates. Commodity prices are solid with Iron Ore and Gold sitting at highs of 107.00 per tone and 1400 per ounce.

New Zealand

The New Zealand Dollar squeezed higher Friday cruising into the weekend in fairly good shape. The weaker US Dollar stopped prior downside momentum with US Manufacturing releasing down on expectation. A dovish Fed has also boosted the kiwi with overall growth expectations on the slide. Market participants are expecting no change to Wednesday’s RBNZ cash rate announcement with easing to continue in the third quarter this year. Markets have already priced in an August rate cut based on global risks and lower inflation forecasts. If trade negotiations at the G20 meeting late this week go well we could see markets turn to “risk on” significantly benefiting commodity based currencies such as Aussie and Kiwi.   Trade Balance released this morning at 264M based on predictions of 200M and pushed the kiwi north across the board. Read more

Below are the weekly economic releases for this week (NZT)

Monday 24/06

• 1130am, AUD, RBA Gov Lowe Speaks

Wednesday 26/06

• All Day, All, OPEC Meetings
• 2am, USD, CB Consumer Confidence
  • Forecast 132
  • Previous 134.1
• 5am, USD, Fed Chair Powell Speaks
• 2pm, NZD, Official Cash Rate
  • Forecast 1.50%
  • Previous 1.50%
• 2pm, NZD, RBNZ Rate Statement
• 915pm, GBP, Inflation Report Hearings

Read more

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Currency markets over the week have been rather slow leading up to the Federal Reserve rate announcement yesterday. The Fed was not as dovish as we anticipated leaving rates at 2.50%, with Powell saying they would gauge incoming economic data and the trade situation with China as to whether they would cut rates at the 1 August monetary policy announcement. Some market participants are expecting two cuts this year, some none with one cut in 2020. The upcoming G20 meeting which starts on the 28th June is set to be a pivotal important meeting in Osaka with negotiations between US and Chinese officials on trade tariffs expected to resume. In the meantime, top US negotiator Lighthizer has said he would contact and speak with the Chinese Vice Premier Liu He prior to the G20 meeting to try and get a head start on proceedings. The talks have followed over six weeks of terrible relations between the US and China officials in a time when many have believed the two heavyweight countries had secured a deal both were happy with.

The New Zealand Dollar first quarter GDP printed bang on expectations of 0.6%, this was the same growth seen in the December 2018 quarter. Year on year the New Zealand economy grew by 2.5% over the previous year’s 2.3% with goods producing industries having the strongest growth in the quarter up 2%. Rightfully so the NZD climbed quickly higher after the release across all cross currencies with investors seeing fresh enthusiasm to buy NZD. We see a higher kiwi on the horizon now for these main reasons – US Fed will cut rates on the 1st of August, NZ growth looks positive after yesterday’s release, June 26th RBNZ meeting will now think twice over cutting the cash rate to 1.25% from 1.50%. If trade negotiations at the G20 meeting late next week go well we could see markets turn to “risk on” significantly benefiting commodity based currencies such as Aussie and kiwi.    Read more

Below are the weekly economic releases for this week (NZT)

Tuesday 18/06

• 8pm, EUR, ECB President Draghi Speaks

Wednesday 19/06

• 2am, GBP, RBNZ BOV Gov Carney Speaks
• 830pm, GBP, CPI y/y
  • Forecast 2.00%
  • Previous 2.10%

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Australia

The Aussie Dollar lost a tone of value last week depreciating a fair chunk against the major currencies. Versus the greenback it has fallen approx 1.30% to open the week around 0.6870. The Aussie Dollar will derive its influence this week from 3 major events. The RBA Monetary Policy Meeting Minutes today at 1.30pm NZT- where they recently cut rates by 25 points to 1.25% , Federal Reserve rate announcement and statement on Thursday and the third- RBA Lowe’s speech titled “The Labor Market and Spare Capacity”. Recently soft data coming out of China has kept the AUD under pressure as global growth outlook has deteriorated dropping the currency to fresh lows. One of the more positive economic stories out of Australia of late is the buoyant iron Ore trading levels. The Ore price has come off a high of 106.29 to 104.33 and trades at the 5th June 2014 level. It’s been volatile recently, this is nothing abnormal, but it continues to rise holding up the Aussie Dollar somewhat.

New Zealand

The New Zealand Dollar has under performed across the main board since mid last week depreciating a hefty 1.3% against the US Dollar with price dipping under 0.6500 for a short time Friday. US Retail Sales for May met expectations of 0.5% where markets appeared relieved on fears the US economy has been slowing faster than expectations. Questions will be raised on whether the Fed will cut rates later this week to 2.25% or wait until August. A further cut is planned for later this year by the Fed. This week’s focus – in fact only local data of any significance is Thursday’s first quarter GDP which will act as the main driver together with the FOMC meeting Thursday. Read more

The New Zealand Dollar remains under pressure against a broad range of currencies. Softer US inflation numbers attracted buyers of the greenback despite rising predictions that the Federal Reserve will cut the benchmark cash rate again soon. US CPI for the month of May was weaker than predicted with the rate easing to 1.8% from earlier predictions of 1.9%. This has boosted investors’ expectations that the Federal Reserve will move to cut rates on June 20.  US Equities traded into the red with energy stocks being dragged down by falling crude oil prices (51.30). Comments from president Trump have intensified issues in Hong Kong as the proposed extradition law intensifies with protests taking place. Markets are spooked with the Hang seng falling 1.7% Wednesday/Thursday. Markets have been trading within recent ranges and may continue to be risk averse in the lead up to the G20 summit starting 28-29th June in Japan. Certainly the unrest in Hong Kong only adds to the ongoing tensions building pre-summit.

The British Pound under performed overnight after the UK Parliament rejected Labour’s plan for a no deal Brexit. MP’s have quashed Labour’s efforts to take control, blocking attempts to stop a no-deal Brexit. Voting results were 309 versus 298 in favour. If the vote had been successful it would have given opponents a chance to legislate to stop the UK leaving with no deal on the 3st of October. Last night’s voting kicked off, Johnson won 114 votes far ahead of his next rival and well ahead of the other 9 contestants. Three were eliminated after the vote count, the next vote for the remaining 7 candidates takes place next Tuesday. Read more

Australia

The Australian Dollar had a mixed week of results, depreciating in value against the New Zealand Dollar by just over 1%, while trading in a choppy range versus the greenback. GDP published meeting expectations at 0.4% growth for the March quarter, posting a slight rise from the 0.2% December quarter. Big picture growth slowed to 1.8% making this the weakest increase since September 2009. The Australian economy continues to grow but not even close to the long term trend of 3.5%. The data falls in line with the RBA cutting their cash rate from 1.25% to 1.5% last Tuesday the first cut in nearly three years – with Phillip Lowe saying the easing should encourage hiring and investment and help lower unemployment. The RBA also hinting another rate cut is on the horizon. Friday’s Trade Balance was down on expectations at 4.87B from the 5.05B markets were expecting and capped any further upside momentum. Jobs figures will be the focus this week with unemployment expected to print at 5.1% slightly better than the 5.2% for April.

New Zealand

The New Zealand Dollar has closed the week outperforming the other main board currencies, stretching its legs against the Japanese Yen extending its hold 1.5 cents or by 2.3%. US Non-Farm Payroll’s poor result Friday was reasonably expected after a soft ADP earlier in the week but no-one quite expected such a reading 100k short of the numbers expected, a major miss. With rising expectations the Federal Reserve will cut rates in July at their next policy meeting we should get further dovish remarks on June 10 keeping the USD under pressure. Despite the recent risk off tone the kiwi has been well supported on general USD weakness and healthy news in the ongoing tariff wars. Over the weekend Trump suspended tariffs on Mexico indefinitely, risk markets should receive a boost early this week on the news. It’s a quiet week on the calendar locally, expect movement to be driven by offshore forces. Read more