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The NZD is hammered
Kia ora,Welcome to Friday’s Economy Watch where we follow the economic events and trends that affect Aotearoa/New Zealand.I'm David Chaston and this is the international edition from Interest.co.nz.And today we lead with news the New Zealand dollar has been re-rated sharply lower overnight, although to be fair only back to levels it was at in April. US benchmark interest rates are rising but the new weaker New Zealand economy is expected to drive the OCR lower than earlier expected.But first in the US, initial jobless claims came in lower than expected at +194,500, a decrease of 10,400 from the prior week when an increase of about that was indicated by seasonal factors. There are now 1.75 mln people on these benefits, +81,000 more than at this time last year.Meanwhile, the Conference Board Leading Economic Index (LEI) retreated in August. A retreat was expected but it came in more than twice the expected decline. That means the LEI fell by -2.8% over the six months between February and August, a faster rate of decline than its -0.9% contraction over the previous six-month period. They noted persistently weak manufacturing new order levels and consumer expectations, and warn of increased headwinds ahead.But it is not weak everywhere. The Philly Fed factory survey for September picked up a modest rise in new orders. But firms in the region remain under sharp price pressure unable to pass on the higher prices they are paying.On the farm, the giant American soybean crop is about ready for harvest, and farmers are glum. The Chinese aren't buying and the Washington isn't coming to the rescue with subsidy support. Prices are back to 2016-2018 levels and the rural concern is palpable.In Financial markets, there was a notable less well-supported US Treasury inflation protected (TIPS) bond tender today that resulted in a median yield of 1.65% plus CPI inflation, compared to 1.93% plus CPI at the prior equivalent event three months ago.There were more central bank rate reviews overnight. Taiwan kept its policy rate unchanged at 2.0%. They have an inflation target of 2.0% and their CPI is currently running at 1.6%. Norway cut theirs by -25 bps to 4.0% in what has been called a "hawkish cut". They have inflation at 3.0% with their target at 2.0%. And the Bank of England held theirs at 4% as expected. They have inflation at inflation at 3.8% when their target is 2%. South Africa held at 7%. Inflation there is 3.3% with a preferred rate of 3.0%.China announced that its Boeing and Airbus-competing C919 aircraft has now received more than 1000 orders, mostly domestic but some international orders as well.Australian labour markets stumbled somewhat in August, falling -5,400 when a small +22,000 rise was expected. And the detail is even less positive because full-time employment fell by -40,900 to 10,077,300 people while part-time employment rose by +35,500 to 4,549,200 people. None of these changes were enough to materially change their 4.2% unemployment rate.Container freight rates fell -6% last week from the prior week with all the weakness coming from outbound rates from China. But bulk freight rates rose +3.4% last week to be +14.6% higher than year ago levels.The UST 10yr yield is now at 4.11%, up +4 bps from yesterday at this time in a steady rise. The price of gold will start today at US$3,643/oz, down -US$15 from yesterday's post Fed dip.American oil prices are down -US$1 at just under US$63.50/bbl, with the international Brent price firmish just under US$67.50/bbl.The Kiwi dollar is at just on 58.8 USc and down -90 bps from yesterday. Against the Aussie we are down -70 bps at 88.9 AUc. Against the euro we are down -50 bps at 49.9 euro cents. That all means our TWI-5 starts today at just under 66, down -50 bps from yesterday.The bitcoin price starts today at US$117,553 and up +1.3% from this time yesterday. Volatility over the past 24 hours has again been modest at just on +/- 1.2%.You can get more news affecting the economy in New Zealand from interest.co.nz.Kia ora. I'm David Chaston. And we will do this again on Monday.
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4:54
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4:54
A Fed rate cut, but also rising imposed uncertainty
Kia ora,Welcome to Thursday’s Economy Watch where we follow the economic events and trends that affect Aotearoa/New Zealand.I'm David Chaston and this is the international edition from Interest.co.nz.And today we lead with news financial markets are struggling to make sense of the US Fed's latest rate cut rationale, one that looks infused with new White House politics.First up this morning, the US central bank cut its policy rate by -25 bps to 4.25% as expected, despite noting that American inflation is "somewhat elevated". It is their first reduction in borrowing costs since December 2024.They said they saw economic activity moderating in the first half of the year with job gains slowing and the unemployment rate edging up. But they still called their jobless rate 'low'. At the same time they noted inflation has moved up. But their economic projections showed they expect inflation over the next year to average 3.4%, higher than the latest CPI level of 2.9%.For some reason, this rising inflation, and 'low' unemployment was the basis for cutting their policy rate. Like many core US institutions, partisan politics is now infecting the Fed. Keeping the pressures under cover, the Fed's press release was unusually short this time, likely papering over the pressures being brought to bear. It looks like the only dissenter was the recent White House injected member.Financial markets have reacted however. After being lower ahead of the decisions, the S&P500 went volatile and is back, tracking slightly lower. The bond market also went volatile, and changed its course to push yields higher. The USD fell and the dollar index (DXY) is now at its lowest level since February 2022. Gold pushed up to a new record high - and then fell back. None of these reactions show confidence in the Trump pressures on the Fed.Meanwhile, US mortgage applications jumped sharply last week, a week that included the US Labor Day holiday. Mortgage interest rates dipped -10 bps in the week and borrowers who need to refinance rushed the opportunity. But new borrowing not so much.However, American housing starts tumbled uncomfortably in August, down far more than was anticipated to be -8.5% below July levels, and -6.0% lower than year-ago levels. New house building consents came in -11.1% below year ago levels, so it is unlikely their housebuilding industry will recover any time soon.Overnight, Canada also reviewed its policy interest rate overnight and cut them too, largely as expected. That takes their key rate to 2.5%. They see a weakening in the resilience first shown by Canadian reactions to their bullying from their southern neighbour. They are watching Canadian consumers and businesses becoming more 'cautious'.In Australia later today, we will get the August labour market report where another small gain in jobs is anticipated (+22,000) and their jobless rate is expected to hold at 4.2%.The UST 10yr yield is now at 4.07%, up +4 bps from yesterday at this time after some bumpy volatility.The price of gold will start today at US$3,658/oz, down -US$29 from yesterday post the Fed.American oil prices are little-changed at just under US$64.50/bbl, with the international Brent price firmish just under US$68.50/bbl.The Kiwi dollar is at just on 59.7 USc and down -25 bps from yesterday. Against the Aussie we are unchanged at 89.6 AUc. Against the euro we are down -5 bps at 50.4 euro cents. That all means our TWI-5 starts today at just over 66.5, down -20 bps from yesterday.The bitcoin price starts today at US$115,997 and down -0.4% from this time yesterday. Volatility over the past 24 hours has again been low at just under +/- 0.8%.Join us at 10:45am this morning for full coverage of the New Zealand Q2-2025 GDP result. Financial markets are expecting a -0.3% dip from Q1 and no year-on-year economic expansion.You can get more news affecting the economy in New Zealand from interest.co.nz.Kia ora. I'm David Chaston. And we will do this again tomorrow.
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4:41
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4:41
Signaled rate cuts locked in
Kia ora,Welcome to Wednesday’s Economy Watch where we follow the economic events and trends that affect Aotearoa/New Zealand.I'm David Chaston and this is the international edition from Interest.co.nz.And today we lead with news markets now universally expect the American central bank to cut rates tomorrow by -25 bps.But today, the overnight dairy auction brought a much better result than expected with the declines for both WMP and SMP nowhere near as sharp as indicated by the earlier derivatives pricing. That will very much ease the pressure on any farm gate payout forecasts. The detail is interesting. There was notably softer demand from China for WMP, but that was countered by stronger SE Asian demand. Cheddar cheese prices rose because of some unexpected demand from North America, But mozzarella prices dived -9.6% on weak Chinese demand. Overall prices slipped just -0.8% in USD, but there were down a sharpish -2.9% in NZD as the greenback took a tumble overnight.Meanwhile, US retail sales rose in August and by a little more than expected. They were up +5.0% after a +4.1% rise in July. But this data is not inflation-adjusted in the way that other countries report. We will have to wait for sales volume data later in the month.And US industrial production rose in August too, but only up +0.1% from the prior month and only after a -0.4% revised fall in July. Year-on-year it is up +0.9%, about average for 2025, but hardly evidence of manufacturing reshoring.Homebuilder sentiment was flat in August as reported by the NAHB survey. It is remaining at the very low levels we have seen since May, and very much lower than this time last year. They are pinning their hopes on Fed rate cut(s) delivering a changed outlook.And staying in the US, crypto giant Binance looks like its lobbying and support of Trump will see the US Justice Department drop a key oversight requirement in its US$4.3 bln settlement of allegations that it didn’t do enough to prevent money laundering. So, pay the money, get no oversight, and go back to enabling money laundering. A real Trump-type deal.Meanwhile, Canadian CPI inflation rose from 1.7% in July to 1.9% in August, a lesser rise than was anticipated. Meanwhile there was a rather sharp fall in housing starts there in August, down -16% from July to 245,791 units from a revised 293,537 in July and well below market expectations of 277,500. But they were still +10% higher than year-ago levels. A rate cut is coming in Canada tomorrow too.In China, there are some signs that Beijing's stimulus could be working. Steel output not only stopped falling, it actually picked up in the first two weeks of September, defying downbeat expectations. And iron ore prices rose too recently.In the EU, industrial production rose more than anticipated in July, although the expectations aren't high.The UST 10yr yield is now at 4.03%, down -1 bp from yesterday at this time. The price of gold will start today at US$3,686/oz, up +US$7 from yesterday.American oil prices are up +US$1 at just over US$64.50/bbl, with the international Brent price firmish just over US$68.50/bbl.The Kiwi dollar is at just on 59.9 USc and up +20 bps from yesterday. Against the Aussie we are up +10 bps at 89.6 AUc. Against the euro we are down -20 bps at 50.5 euro cents. That all means our TWI-5 starts today at just over 66.7, little-changed from yesterday.The bitcoin price starts today at US$116,480 and up +1.3% from this time yesterday. Volatility over the past 24 hours has again been low at just under +/- 0.8%.You can get more news affecting the economy in New Zealand from interest.co.nz.Kia ora. I'm David Chaston. And we will do this again tomorrow.
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4:27
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4:27
Markets expect rate cut salve
Kia ora,Welcome to Tuesday’s Economy Watch where we follow the economic events and trends that affect Aotearoa/New Zealand.I'm David Chaston and this is the international edition from Interest.co.nz.And today we lead with news both the US and China are eyeing rate cuts to bolster wavering economies.While all financial market attention is on the US Fed and its Thursday rate review - and market positioning is underway relative to the expected -25 bps cut - there is other economic news being released.The New York Empire factory survey delivered a negative surprise with new order levels falling sharply when they were expected to rise. That drove their overall survey negative when an expansion was anticipated.Across the Pacific, and in an unexpected result, China's retail sales data was released and were expected to have grown faster in August by +3.8%, up from +3.7% in July. Some anticipated a +5% rise. But in the end the rise was only +3.4%, and that was an eight month low.China's August industrial production was up +5.2%, a one year low, good but less than the +5.7% in July and also less than the expected +5.8%. All this was done with only a +1.6% rise in electricity production, and -3.2% fall in the production of fossil fuels, according to these official stats.China's house prices were generally stable in August. There were a few more signs of marginally higher prices in a few more cities for new developments. But the sales prices of pre-owned housing continues its slow droop and the trend is becoming ever more embedded as pressures mount.But probably worse from China was that fixed asset investment hardly rose, up just +0.5% for the eight months from the same period a year ago. It was expected to have risen +1.4% on this ytd basis. August 2025 alone actually came in lower than August 2024, a worrying sign.It is possible that the upcoming review on China's Loan Prime Rates may be cut to bolster their wobbly economic position. These are due for official review at the weekend.In Indonesia, they launched a new US$1 bln economic stimulus package to boost economic growth as a way of stabilising widespread unease about the country's direction.Indian exports softened in August, and their imports did too and by a bit more. That meant the expected -US$30 bln trade deficit for the month was lower than in July and lower than expected.India also had good labour market news with their jobless rate falling to a record low of 5.2% when a small rise was anticipated.In Australia, their National Climate Risk Assessment was released yesterday. They are trying to prioritise and plan how they will adapt and respond. The report says that while the world is already 1.2ºC hotter than during pre-industrial times, because of its sheer land size Australia is warming faster and is 1.5ºC hotter. Australia is experiencing more intense heatwaves on land and sea, rising seas and more frequent coastal flooding. Although the usual suspects remain in denial, a surprising number are now accepting it has become an urgent issue. Insurance premiums, even availability, will be how it will affect most people in Australia.But back with the headline financial market news. Ahead of the US Fed decision, equity markets are buoyant and all-in on optimism, but bond markets are wary, the USD is wavering, and commodity prices are little changed except for precious metals.The UST 10yr yield is now at 4.04%, down -2 bps from yesterday at this time.The price of gold will start today at US$3,679/oz, up +US$38 from yesterday.American oil prices are up +US$1 at just under US$63.50/bbl, with the international Brent price firmish just on US$67.50/bbl.The Kiwi dollar is at just under 59.7 USc and up +10 b ps from yesterday. Against the Aussie we are down -10 bps at 89.5 AUc. Against the euro we are also down -10 bps at 50.7 euro cents. That all means our TWI-5 starts today at just over 66.7, little-changed from yesterday.The bitcoin price starts today at US$114,938 and down -0.6% from this time yesterday. Volatility over the past 24 hours has been low at just under +/- 1%.You can get more news affecting the economy in New Zealand from interest.co.nz.Kia ora. I'm David Chaston. And we will do this again tomorrow.
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4:58
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4:58
Inflation up, jobs down. The US Fed has to choose a policy direction
Kia ora,Welcome to Monday’s Economy Watch where we follow the economic events and trends that affect Aotearoa/New Zealand.I'm David Chaston and this is the international edition from Interest.co.nz.And today we lead with news fighting inflation may well be a downgraded objective in the face of political pressure. The consequences could be long-lasting and global.For financial markets, this week will be all about the US Fed's Thursday rate decision where now a -25 bps cut is widely anticipated, to try and weigh against the softening US labour market. The same day the Canadians will review their policy rate too where a similar -25 bps cuts is expected.And there will be central bank reviews in Japan this week (no change), Indonesia (no change), England (no change), and Brazil this week too.China will also review its key rates and no change is expected there either. And China will release a lot of August economic data too, including FDI data.Australia will release its August labour market update and a modest +25,000 rise in employment is anticipated. Our balance of payments data will be released on Wednesday (expect a larger deficit), and Q2-2025 GDP will be released on Thursday (expect a decline). And before that we will get the August REINZ data and a full dairy auction.But back in the US, the pessimistic turn continues. The widely-watched University of Michigan consumer sentiment survey delivered downbeat results in September, sharply lower from August and well below what analysts had expected. They had expected a turn lower but not by this much. Declines were strongest among lower- and middle-income households because concerns grew over business conditions, jobs, and inflation. Both short and long term sentiment fell back. This index is more than -20% lower than year-ago levels.Meanwhile, year-ahead inflation expectations held steady at 4.8% while the five-year expectations moved up for the second straight month to 3.9% from 3.5%.Canadian building consents were unchanged in July from June but down -8.2% from a year ago. But most of this was due to non-residential work; residential consents were up, especially in Toronto.We should probably note that there are trade talks going on in Madrid between the US and China.In China, August data for new yuan loans came in well below what was expected although expectations weren't high. It was the lowest amount of bank debt for an August since 2011, extending the current period of weak credit demand amid the weakening consumer debt demand and the prolonged crisis for housing. The debt appetite dropped despite central bank efforts to loosen monetary conditions and stimulate borrowing.In India, consumer inflation rose, as expected, but only to 2.1% and ending a ten month period where it fell consistently from 6.2% to 1.6% in July. Food prices were little-changed and had no effect on the overall result.In France, Fitch has downgraded their credit rating to A+ from AA- on Friday, citing political turmoil and rising debt.We should probably note that copper prices are basically back to levels they were at five years ago, which is double what they were ten years ago. At current production levels the USGS estimates that existing mines will be able to operate for the next forty years, and proven resources will last about 200 years. (But there are expected to be much larger resources yet to be discovered.) We will look at some aspect core mineral resources weekly, going forward. (H/T PDK)The UST 10yr yield is now at 4.06%, little-changed from Saturday.The price of gold will start today at US$3,641/oz, down -US$7 from Saturday. That is up +US$48 from a week ago. Silver had another spurt, now up over US$42/oz.American oil prices are unchanged at just on US$62.50/bbl, with the international Brent price firmish just under US$67/bbl, both up +US$1 for the week.The Kiwi dollar is at just under 59.6 USc and unchanged from Saturday but up +70 bps from a week ago. Against the Aussie we are also unchanged at 89.6 AUc. Against the euro we are holding at 50.8 euro cents. That all means our TWI-5 starts today at just over 66.7, little-changed from Saturday but up +50 bps for the week.The bitcoin price starts today at US$115,666 and down -0.6% from this time Saturday. Volatility over the past 24 hours has been very low at just on +/- 0.4%.You can get more news affecting the economy in New Zealand from interest.co.nz.Kia ora. I'm David Chaston. And we will do this again tomorrow.
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5:07
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5:07