Fear is stalking New Zealand's financial markets.
We are the first to open this week, and swap rates have taken a pounding, sinking to record lows.
The two year swap rate is currently down 16 basis points from the Friday close, to just 0.70%. Remember at the start of the year this was 1.26% and at the start of February it was at 1.13%.
The five year swap rate is currently down 13 bps, and the ten year is down 11 bps, both to new record lows.
Our exchange rate has also sunk lower, now at just 62.1 USc, although that is not as steep a decline as for the wholesale interest rate markets.
The NZX50 Capital Index has opened down -3.2%. Other markets will be opening later today, but this may be a precursor of more major red ink to splash across the world's financial markets. Update: The ASX200 has opened down -2.6%. The NZ 2yr swap rate is now down -20 bps to 0.66%.
Daily swap rates
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15 Comments
If you own several properties and owe alot of money to the banks you will find they will be wanting their money back soon. House prices are likely to drop in a big way in a month or two. Think about this seriously. Now is the right time to cash in those chips or risk bankrupcy.
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