sign up log in
Want to go ad-free? Find out how, here.

The Opening Bell: Where currencies start on Friday, October 20, 2017

Currencies
The Opening Bell: Where currencies start on Friday, October 20, 2017

By Dan Bell

The NZDUSD opens at 0.7017 (mid-rate) this morning.

After almost a four week wait since the 23rd September NZ Election a decision has been made by Mr Peters, NZ First leader to form a coalition government with Labour (and the Greens). The new Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern becomes the youngest female Prime Minister of all time.

After posting a 0.7171 high in the NZDUSD yesterday, the Kiwi was trading around 0.7070 immediately before announcement by Mr Peters to make Ms Ardern the 40th Prime Minister of New Zealand for the 52nd NZ parliament. The Kiwi had fallen 55 points from around 0.7125 in the two hours leading up to the announcement and traded to a low of 0.7012 overnight and practically flat lining over the last 7 hours.

The lower Kiwi will be welcome relief for NZ exporters. We were last trading at these levels on May 26th 2017, and once 0.7000 breaks it would open up a retest of 0.6800 (0.6814 was the May 10th low).

The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits fell to its lowest level in more than 44 years last week, pointing to a rebound in job growth after a hurricane-related decline in employment in September. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 22,000 to a seasonally adjusted 222,000 for the week ended Oct. 14, the lowest level since March 1973.

The US Manufacturing Business Outlook Survey suggests that firms remained optimistic about future growth. The index for current manufacturing activity in the region increased 4 points to a reading of 27.9 and is now at its highest reading since May.

UK Retail Sales increased 0.6% in September, but fell 0.8% when compared with August. Year on year the retail sector increased 1.2%. Store prices continue to rise across all store types and are at their highest year-on-year price growth since March 2012 at 3.3%.

Global equity markets are a sea of red except Japan:  Dow -0.07%, S&P 500 -0.10%, FTSE -0.26%, DAX -0.41%, CAC -0.29%, Nikkei +0.40, Shanghai -0.34%.

Gold prices are up $7 or 0.5% currently trading at $1,287 an ounce. WTI Crude Oil prices gave up yesterday’s gains to be down 1.3% overnight currently trading at $51.36 a barrel.

Current indicative rates:

NZDUSD    0.7017     -1.8%
NZDEUR    0.5926     -2.1%
NZDGBP    0.5331     -1.5%
NZDJPY      78.97      -2.1%
NZDAUD    0.8913     -2.1%
NZDCAD    0.8755     -1.7%
GBPNZD    1.8748      1.5%

Upcoming Data releases (NZST):

  • 10:45am - NZD - Visitor Arrivals m/m
  • 03:00pm - NZD - Credit Card Spending y/y

To subscribe to our free daily Currency Rate Sheet and News email, enter your email address here.

Email:  

Dan Bell is the senior currency strategist at HiFX in Auckland. You can contact him here »

Daily exchange rates

Select chart tabs

Daily benchmark rate
Source: RBNZ
Daily benchmark rate
Source: RBNZ
Daily benchmark rate
Source: RBNZ
Daily benchmark rate
Source: RBNZ
Daily benchmark rate
Source: RBNZ
Daily benchmark rate
Source: RBNZ
Daily benchmark rate
Source: RBNZ
End of day UTC
Source: CoinDesk

We welcome your comments below. If you are not already registered, please register to comment.

Remember we welcome robust, respectful and insightful debate. We don't welcome abusive or defamatory comments and will de-register those repeatedly making such comments. Our current comment policy is here.