The NZDUSD opens at higher at 0.6657 this morning.
It’s all about the US Fed this morning.
As expected, the Fed raised interest rates by 0.25%, to a 2.00-2.25% range, and the USD ultimately weakened by a modest amount.
The NZDUSD traded in a 40 point range in reaction to the Fed rate decision, ahead of the RBNZ’s own interest rate decision at 9am, followed by a 10am press conference. The OCR (official cash rate) will remain at 1.75% - most interest will be on the press conference to understand the RBNZ’s current thinking on the likely future path and timing of NZ interest rates.
The key points from the US Fed decision and Chairman Powell’s press conference are:
- Gradual return to normal interest rates helping to sustain US Economy
- Overall US growth outlook remains favourable, boosted by fiscal stimulus
- Expects the job market to remain strong
- Expects inflation to remain near 2 percent on a sustained basis
- Removal of 'accommodative' in statement is a sign that monetary policy is proceeding in line with expectations
- Gradual increase in rates allows Fed to carefully watch incoming data to see how it is processing higher rates
- Does not consider political factors in deciding policy
- Forecasts on inflation based on perception that it is not responding as much to less slack in the labour market
- Business contacts around country showing rising chorus of concern about trade tensions
- Effects of trade tensions are still relatively small
- He worries where trade tensions are going in the longer run
- If there are widespread tariffs, a more protectionist world will be bad for US & global economy
- It is a 'particularly bright moment' for the US economy
- Does not see inflation surprising to the upside
- He thinks monetary policy is still accommodative
- The USD$ has only partly recovered the decline it had in 2017
Global equity markets were higher on the day (apart from in the US) - Dow -0.4%, S&P 500 -0.4%, FTSE +0.1%, DAX +0.1%, CAC +0.6%, Nikkei +0.4%, Shanghai -0.6%.
Gold prices are fell 0.5% to USD$1,195 an ounce, while WTI Crude Oil prices were dropped 0.8% at US$71.63 per barrel.
Current indicative rates:
| NZDUSD | 0.6657 | 0.1% |
| NZDEUR | 0.5662 | 0.2% |
| NZDGBP | 0.5053 | 0.2% |
| NZDJPY | 74.98 | -0.1% |
| NZDAUD | 0.9163 | -0.1% |
| NZDCAD | 0.8658 | 0.6% |
| GBPNZD | 1.9790 | -0.2% |
Upcoming Data releases (NZST):
- 9am - RBNZ Official Cash Rate (OCR)
- 10am - RBNZ press conference
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Dan Bell is the senior currency strategist at xe money transfer in Auckland. You can contact him here »
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