Here are the key things you need to know before you leave work today.
LOCAL FACTORIES CONFIDENT
The January PMI data is out today and the growing levels of confidence we saw in 2013 have held into the new year. New orders were down, but on a seasonally adjusted basis were little changed.
INFLATION INDEXED BOND POPULAR
The latest NZG bond tender for $200 mln of inflation indexed was held today and received bids for 2.6 times the amount offered. The rate paid was 2.98% (plus inflation). This NZ bond is in the global inflation-linked benchmark index and that draws international support.
KIWISAVER FUND WINNERS
Our latest KiwiSaver return results show that actively managed schemes, especially by banks, are doing very well for savers.
AUSSIE UNEMPLOYMENT UP
The January employment data for Australia released this afternoon came out slightly worse than expected. Their unemployment rate is now 6.0% s.a. and 6.4% on an actual basis. Their participation rate dropped to 64.2%, the lowest its been since 2004. (64.5% s.a.) There are now 773,000 Australians classed as unemployed in these official figures, its highest level since 1998.
WHOLESALE RATES TREND UP
Swap rates were stable today, while the 90 day bank bill rates were up marginally to 2.94%.
OUR CURRENCY RISES
The NZD hovered in a narrow range against most other currencies today, except the AUD where we strengthened significantly on the unemployment result. We are almost back up to 93 AUc again.
HOUSE PRICES
Nobody - including the REINZ - actually knows when this January data will be released. They tell us it is unlikely to be today, could be tomorrow, or even Monday.
1 Comments
Something else happened today , Winston Peters is questioning how John Key knew about his 3 visits to the Dotcom Mansion .
Firstly if Kim Dotcom lets out a big fat fart, everyone in Coatesville knows about it , he is a permanent source of gossip , scandal and intrigue in this tiny community .
Many a Coatesville dinner party have been ruined by vociferous arguments about this German Interloper
All the comings and goings at trhe mansion are noticed by all and sundry .
And given he is a German , he is watched suspicously by the local ladies bridge and tea group
Winnie should know the North Shore is really a very small place and if he turns up in Coatesville in that scruffy black suit , on a Saturday or Sunday, someone is bound to notice him .
Unless he is visitng John Key ( also in Coatesville) which is unlikely , then a bit of elementary first grade arithmetic is all we need to work out who he is visiting
To cap it , suspicions are also raised when Winston Peters is rumoured to have popped in to the local Pony Club afterwards for a look - see as to how the 1% live .
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.