Here are the key things you need to know before you leave work today (or if you already work from home, before you shutdown your laptop).
MORTGAGE/LOAN RATE CHANGES
The Police Credit Union raised its 2 year fixed rate. And ANZ raised its personal loan interest rate today, taking its rate up from 12.9% to 13.9% pa. That say "There will be no impact for existing customers, who will continue to receive their existing rate. This includes if they choose to top up their current loan."
TERM DEPOSIT/SAVINGS RATE CHANGES
No changes here today.
NO RELIEF
First home buyers received little relief last month as further mortgage rate rises offset the benefit of slightly cheaper house prices. We have the August update of home loan affordability here.
NO RESPITE
The service sector is contracting now, not quite as hard as the factory sector, but at a faster pace of shrinkage. Given there is surging immigration, and August still had FIFA World Cup activity, it isn't a great result. BNZ says: " We’d surmise the impact of the high cost of living, high interest rates, and weaker export prices have dented aggregate activity. Some election uncertainty could also be at play."
NO FRIENDS
Synlait Milk’s 'delivery in full and on time performance' of its manufacturing and supply agreement with a2 Milk has fallen 'below the level required', according to a2. Synlait put its shares into a trading halt after a2 Milk moved to end its exclusive supply agreement.
MORE GREEN BOX-CHECKING
Auckland Council is seeking $300 mln of new debt funding via a "green bonds" issue. The indicative issue margin is 0.65%-0.70% pa for this five year debt. That would mean they could be paying about 5.57% pa. Other than the label, it isn't entirely clear why some of the projects being targeted are especially 'green' as opposed to regular Council activity. Perhaps they appeal to investor's box-checking.
MORE UPDATES
ACT is the only party releasing policy today. That relates to constitutional reform and the Treaty of Waitangi. You can find all policies compared by subject area here, as well as the party lists and party philosophies. Later releases by Labour on solar subsidies are here.
MORE LANGUAGE SKILLS NEEDED
It is Chinese Language Week, and there are details and commentary on the benefits of broader language skills from John McKinnon here.
SWAPS RISE
Wholesale swap rates probably pushed higher sharply today across the whole curve. More Republican threats to shut down the US Government may be behind the moves for higher yields. But the real reaction will come at the close. Our chart will record the final positions. The 90 day bank bill rate is unchanged at 5.66%. The Australian 10 year bond yield is up +5 bps to 4.21%. The China 10 year bond rate is up +3 bps at 2.70%. The NZ Government 10 year bond rate is up +8 bps at 5.08%, but still well above the earlier RBNZ fixing of 4.98% which was up +4 bps today. The UST 10 year yield is up over 4.35% which is now its highest since 2007 and a bit unusual it should move up there while the US is still in a weekend.
EQUITIES MIXED
The NZX50 is up +0.3% near today's close. The ASX200 is down -0.5% in afternoon trade. Tokyo is on holiday (Respect for the Aged Day). Hong Kong has opened its Monday trade down -0.9%, but Shanghai is unchanged so far. The S&P500 futures suggest that Wall Street will open up a modest +0.2%.
GOLD EDGES UP
In early Asian trade, gold is at US$1927/oz and up +US$3 from this morning's open.
NZD STAYS IN TIGHT RANGE
The Kiwi dollar is little-changed from this time morning at 59.1 USc. Against the Aussie we are unchanged at 91.8 AUc. Against the euro we still at 55.4 euro cents. The TWI-5 is little-changed from this morning at just over 68.5.
BITCOIN INCHES UP
The bitcoin price is higher and now at US$26,634 and up another +0.6% from where we opened this morning. Volatility over the past 24 hours has been low at just over +/- 0.6%.
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