Here are the key things you need to know before you leave work today.
MORTGAGE RATE CHANGES
Kiwibank has launched a 3.99% rate for two years fixed. Details here.
TERM DEPOSIT RATE CHANGES
Kiwibank has also raised its 6 month TD rate by +5 bps to 3.40%, the highest offer for that term among any of the main banks.
FATTER COMMISSIONS
Real estate industry is estimated to have earned $1.5 bln in residential sales commissions in 2018, up 7.2% from 2017.
SOUTHERN HOTSPOTS
Just ahead of the December-March peak season, November guest nights hit a record of their own, up +3.8% from the same month a year ago. Overall hotel occupancy rate was 77.0% and the motel occupancy rate was 55.1%. South Island overseas guest nights rose +9.7% from November 2017, while the North Island had +2.8% fewer overseas guest nights in short-term commercial accommodation. Tourism hotspots Canterbury and Queenstown had the most growth in international guest nights, up +23.0% and +6.9% respectively from November 2017.
SYNLAIT FALLS IN LINE
Synlait has cut its 2018/19 season farm gate milk price payout from $6.75/kgMS to $6.25. That makes them more in line with the latest Fonterra estimate. Why it held out for so long is unclear, and a little confusing as recent auction prices have risen more than +11% since the start of December.
ONE USE OF THE CROWN SURPLUS
Treasury updated its Funding Strategy document today showing that average maturities over the whole portfolio remain historically long at just on 7 years, and holdings by foreigners declining quite sharply (although still over 50%). They plan to reduce the overall amounts on issue by -$3.2 bln, issuing $8 bln while letting -$11.2 bln mature. Investors like this asset, so with outstandings declining, that will help keep the yields low, and bring $3.2 bln of fixed income demand on to the market - almost certainly drawing more [higher risk] corporate issuance. SOE issuance and PPP vehicles may also chase this money.
SWAP RATES STABLE
Local wholesale swap rates are little-changed. The UST 10yr yield is also little-changed at 2.76% and their 2-10 curve is still just under +15 bps. The Aussie Govt 10yr is at 2.22% (+1 bp), the China Govt 10yr is up +1 bps at 3.19%, while the NZ Govt 10 yr is at 2.35% and up +3 bps. The 90 day bank bill rate market is up +2 bp at 1.91%.
BITCOIN SOFT
The bitcoin price is marginal lower at US$3,509, a slip of -1.0%.
NZD FIRM
Trading is very light today with Australian markets closed. But the Kiwi dollar has edged up against the greenback at 68.6 USc. On the cross rates we are unchanged at 95.4 AUc, and are holding at 60.1 euro cents. That leaves the TWI-5 at 72.6.
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3 Comments
David,
As well as the formal announcement every few months, Synlait regularly gives additional 'milk barometer' information to its suppliers as to how things are tracking. For example, Synlait farmers were given information on 16 January in their milk barometer, using data up to 31 December 2018, that the season was tracking at $6.00 and that a reduction could therefore be expected in the formal price estimate to be provided on 28 January.
I find the Synlait barometer is the best available source as to how things are tracking. For example, with their season to date calculation sitting at $6.00 and the new end of year estimate at $6.25 together with their estimate that 61% of the season's production was sold by 31 December, I can see how much upside they are predicting. It is much more informative than the information supplied by Fonterra. Perhaps you should ask them to be put on their mailing list - I get it despite not being a supplier.
Keith W
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