Here's my summary of the key issues from overnight that affect New Zealand, with news New Zealand got a positive review from Moody's.
But first, the number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits rose less than expected last week and previous weeks data was revised lower. The four-week moving average of these unemployment benefit claims has now hit its lowest level since 2000, suggesting an abrupt slowdown in job growth seen in the March non-farm payrolls report was unlikely to be repeated.
Overnight, Greece made a crucial €450 mln payment to the International Monetary Fund, but it remained unclear whether Athens can satisfy sceptical creditors on economic reforms before it runs out of money in the next week. The payment may have used up all its liquid resources.
However there are also reports the ECB has raised its emergency funding for private Greek banks as the local bank runs intensify.
In France, HSBC says it has been placed under formal criminal investigation by French magistrates over alleged past tax-related offenses at its Swiss private bank.
Moody's overnight gave the New Zealand economy praise saying they expect our economy to tick along nicely with solid +3.2% growth in 2015.
Construction will drive domestic demand. The external sector will be a drag because of falling dairy prices however. They also forecast inflation will remain low and the Reserve Bank will keep rates unchanged in 2015.
In New York, the UST 10yr yield was virtually unchanged overnight at 1.93%.
The US oil price is also unchanged today at US$51/barrel and Brent crude at $57 a barrel.
The gold price has kept falling however and is currently at US$1,194/oz.
The New Zealand dollar will start today higher at 75.4 US¢, still very high against the Aussie at 98.2 AU¢, and the TWI is just on 80.8. We also have hit further all-time record highs against the sinking euro and the NZD is now at 70.9 euro cents.
If you want to catch up with all the local changes yesterday, we have an update here.
The easiest place to stay up with event risk is by following our Economic Calendar here »
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