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Economy Watch

Interest.co.nz / Podcasts NZ, David Chaston, Gareth Vaughan, interest.co.nz
Economy Watch
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  • Silly season sentiment elevated
    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 commodity currencies are in favour at the end of the week as global commodity prices get a halo boost from the taxes Americans are prepared to pay for commodities. Risk is in favour; 'greed is good' and blindness to the downside possibilities seems wilful. It helps that heavyweight investors have gone on their summer vacations.But first, US initial jobless claims came in at 240,800 last week, an increase and a bit more than seasonal factors would have expected. There are now 1.91 mln people on these benefits, +111,000 or +6.2% or more than at this time last year. That is their highest level since 2021.There was a smaller US Treasury 30yr bond auction earlier today and if it wasn't for the SOMA activity from the New York Fed, demand would have been lighter than at the prior event. In the end, it delivered a median yield of 4.84%, little-changed from the 4.80% at the prior equivalent event.In Japan, their June producer prices were up +2.9% from a year ago, a notable easing from the +4.3% rise in March. In fact, from May, Japanese producer prices slipped marginally. From early 2022, there has been an overall trend of these price increases easing and they may be now heading into a bit of a deflationary period.China's vehicle sales grew by almost +14% in June from the same month a year ago following an +11% rise in May. Sales of new energy vehicles (NEVs) surged more than +26% in June, marking the fourth consecutive monthly increase. In the first half of 2025, total vehicle sales climbed +11%, while NEV sales jumped more than +40%. They are on target for NEV sales to exceed 16 mln units - which is more than all vehicle sales in the US. China is on track for sales of 33 mln for the full year, easily the world's largest vehicle market.The Korean central bank kept its policy rate unchanged at 2.5% as expected. It last cut its rate in May.Australian business turnover data has revealed that May activity was softish, recording a small slip from April. May was held back by a fall in their mining sector. But from a year ago, May 2025 was overall +5.9% higher on a current price basis.Container freight rates fell -5% last week from the prior week, almost all on outbound cargoes from China. Overall rates are now half year-ago levels, although to be fair those year-ago levels were juiced up by the Red Sea crisis. Bulk cargo rates were little changed this week but are -25% lower than year-ago levels.The UST 10yr yield is now at 4.35%, and up +1 bp from yesterday.The price of gold will start today at US$3,317/oz, and up +US$9 from yesterday.American oil prices are down -US$2 at US$66.50/bbl while the international Brent price is now just over US$68.50/bbl.The Kiwi dollar is now at 60.3 USc, up +25 bps from yesterday. Against the Aussie we are down -10 bps at 91.6 AUc. Against the euro we are up +30 bps at 51.5 euro cents. That all means our TWI-5 starts today at just on 67.7 and +20 bps firmer than yesterday at this time.The bitcoin price starts today at US$113,549, a record high and up +4.0% from this time yesterday. Volatility over the past 24 hours has been moderate at just on +/-2.0%.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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  • The Trump pandemic twists American summer priorities
    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 of more tariff threats, but markets are over that drama, shoving its impact to the background. If there is news on a US-EU deal, then that will likely change.First in the US, even though the benchmark 30 year home loan interest rate was little-changed, mortgage applications rose a sharpish +9.3% from the prior week, and that was a rise for a third week in a row, a relatively unusual streak. Both refinance and new home purchases had good gains this week.One reason they may be more active is that Americans are shunning international travel, kind of like in the pandemic emergency, perhaps fearful of the reception they will get in both Europe, South America and Asia. And the feeling is mutual. EU-US airfares are diving and services are being cut back. But Canada is now a hit, with other-than-the-US destinations much more popular, and Toronto especially is getting a surge. In the world of travel, the US is the only major market suffering declines in visitors.The US Federal reserve released the minutes of its June 19 (NZT) meeting. And that hinted at a developing divide among members between those who support the Trump view that the tariff-tax impact on inflation will be transitory, and those that think it will be 'persistent' and do long-term and lasting damage to American cost competitiveness. And that divergence affected their view of when to next cut rates. At this meeting at least those with the fear of embedded inflation won out and rates were left unchanged. But financial markets have priced in two more -25 bps rate cuts later this year.At least one of their number are in a broader Apprentice-style competition for Powell's job - Christopher Waller.There was another US Treasury bond auction overnight, for their 10 year maturity, and it was normally supported. It delivered an median yield of 4.31% compared to the 4.38% at the prior equivalent event a month ago.Across the Pacific, Japanese machine tool orders rose in June from May, maintaining their better level in a trend that started in March. And it was demand from domestic manufacturers that were especially strong. Even though in total they were just marginally less than a year ago, that year ago benchmark was unusually strong for a 2024 month.The heart of the northern hemisphere holiday season is underway and financial market activity is lighter than usual. This period will likely last until the end of August, culminating at the American Labor Day long weekend.The UST 10yr yield is now at 4.34%, and down -8 bps from yesterday.And we should note that Nvidia has become the first company to command an equity valuation of US$4 tln.The price of gold will start today at US$3,308/oz, and up a mere +US$2 from yesterday.American oil prices are unchanged at US$68.50/bbl while the international Brent price is still just under US$70.50/bbl.The Kiwi dollar is still just on 60 USc, essentially unchanged from yesterday. Against the Aussie we are down -20 bps at 91.7 AUc. Against the euro we are holding at 51.2 euro cents. That all means our TWI-5 starts today at just on 67.5 and -10 bps lower from yesterday at this time.The bitcoin price starts today at US$109,140 and virtually unchanged (+0.1%) from this time yesterday. Volatility over the past 24 hours has been low at just on +/-0.6%.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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  • More tariff own-goals signaled
    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 US tariff threats are shifting from being aimed at trading 'partners' to a focus on commodities, today especially copper. Protection of favoured US business interests is the goal, cloaked in the labels of 'national security'.But first up today, the overnight dairy Pulse auction delivered less change than expected, essentially holding on to the SMP and WMP prices at the prior week's full auction. But in the meantime the NZD has retreated so both delivered good gains in NZD, up +1.1% for SMP and up +3.1% for WMP.The US retail impulse as measured by the Redbook survey delivered a very good +5.9% gain over the same week a year ago, but it should be noted that earlier base week was an unusual down one.And the New York Fed's national survey of consumer inflation expectations returned to a 'normal' 3% in June, and a five month low. But some components remain a worry. Those surveyed thing food prices will rise 5.5%, rents will rise +9.1% and medical care by +9.3%Meanwhile the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index for June was little changed at it long run levelThe popular US Treasury three year bond auction delivered unchanged demand and little-change on the median yields achieved. Today that came in at 3.84%, whereas the equivalent event a month ago was at 3.92%.US consumer debt grew a very modest +US$5 bln in May, half the expansion in April and well below the average for the past year. The slowdown was very acute for revolving debt, like credit cards.In Canada, the widely-watched local PMI turned positive in June following two toughish months.In Germany, both exports and imports were expected to decline in May from April, and they did, but by slightly more than was expected. But both remain higher than year ago levels.In Australia, the widely watched NAB business sentiment survey picked up and that was a much better outcome than the contraction expected. In fact this June result for business conditions broke the mould of the long-running decline that started in June 2022.That survey didn't point to anything special in terms of cost pressures. But those cost pressures clearly worried the RBA when it surprised financial markets with its no-change decision yesterday. The widely-expected rate cut didn't happen and so household budgets will have to wait for more relief. The RBA did pick up the resilience in the overall economy, but judged it too early to respond to perceptions of economic weaknesses. In fact they saw the balance of risks from trade and labour market cost activity not requiring a boost from a cut in interest rates.We should note that US tariff uncertainty is screwing around with some key commodity prices, especially copper, which has soared over the past day or so to over US$12,000/tonne and easily a new record high. Some US futures contracts are now up over US$13,000/tonne. US products that use copper are going to get a cost jolt. Because it is a jolt directly related to a new US tariff-tax, it won't affect products made outside the US.The UST 10yr yield is now at 4.42%, and up another +3 bps from yesterday.The price of gold will start today at US$3,306/oz, and down -US$25 from yesterday.American oil prices are up another +US$1 at just under US$68.50/bbl while the international Brent price is now just under US$70.50/bbl.The Kiwi dollar is now just on 60 USc, little-changed from yesterday. Against the Aussie we are down -50 bps at 91.9 AUc. Against the euro we are down -10 bps at 51.2 euro cents. That all means our TWI-5 starts today at just on 67.6 and -10 bps lower from yesterday at this time.The bitcoin price starts today at US$109,015 and up +1.0% from this time yesterday. Volatility over the past 24 hours has been moderate at just on +/-2.3%.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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  • Risk off as tariff shambles extends
    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 financial markets have turned cautious, unsure of what to make of the set of 'tariff letters'.In Washington, because they couldn't complete tariff deals in the "90 deals in 90 days" to July 9, they have moved the 'deadline' to August 1. The shambles extends. And the capricious tariff letters are starting to be issued, first to Japan and South Korea at 25%, and then a bunch of developing countries including Malaysia (25%) and South Africa (30%).Essentially, the US is pushing countries into China's orbit, and creating conditions where many will shy away from buying US goods due to the bald insult. US businesses are likely to suffer, not only from financial market reactions, but also on the demand front. Other governments' trust in the US is in free-fall.Separately, we can also report that the NY Fed's Global Supply Chain Pressure index was neutral in June, back to its long run 'normal level'. That amounts to an easing of the May pressure as the rush to beat the tariff-taxes faded.Across the Pacific, China said its foreign exchange reserves rose by +US$32 bln to US$3.317 tln in June and that is the highest level they have had in nearly ten years (December 2015).Singapore's foreign exchange reserves stayed very high in June, even if they did dip marginally from their record high level in May.In the EU, they report retail sales by volume (inflation adjusted) and it slipped in May from April. But it stayed higher than year-ago levels although by less than +1%.Meanwhile, Germany reported its May industrial production turned up and by much more than expected. Although to be fair, it is in a bit of an overall yoyo pattern. Still, on a volume basis it too is +1.0% higher than year ago levels.So overall, even though some of it is over a month old, this set of second tier data, from the US, to Asia, to Europe isn't painting a picture of special stress.How the Australian central bank see it will be revealed later today when the RBA issues its decision on its cash rate target. Market pricing has only two-thirds of a -25 bps cut priced in although most economists think it will happen, and take their policy rate down from 3.85% to 3.60%. That will flow through to homeowner's household budgets quickly because most have variable rate deals.However it its far from certain this will give the Aussie domestic economy the boost a rate cut should deliver. It almost certainly will juice up house prices, which are already rising in anticipation. But existing borrowers seem to have decided en masse that the cash gains from lower rates will be used to pay down debt rather than be spent in generating more economic activity, which is why the RBA is cutting. To get that effect, the central bank may have to cut again later in the year. There are reviews in August, September, November and December yet to come, so plenty of opportunities for more cuts.The UST 10yr yield is now at 4.39%, and up +6 bps from yesterday.The price of gold will start today at US$3,332/oz, and down -US$4 from yesterday.American oil prices are up +US$1 at just under US$67.50/bbl while the international Brent price is now just over US$69/bbl.The Kiwi dollar is now just on 60 USc, down an outsized -60 bps from yesterday. Against the Aussie we are down -10 bps at 92.4 AUc. Against the euro we are down -20 bps at 51.3 euro cents. That all means our TWI-5 starts today at just under 67.7 and -30 bps lower from yesterday at this time.The bitcoin price starts today at US$107,923 and down -0.9% from this time yesterday. Volatility over the past 24 hours has remained low at just on +/-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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  • Eyes on the RBA and RBNZ
    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 the world is working out how live with a capricious America.First though, the week ahead will feature Wednesday afternoon's OCR review from the RBNZ, preceded Tuesday by the RBA's cash rate review. The Aussies are expected to cut their rate by -25 bps to 3.60% but the RBNZ is expected to hold at 3.25%. We will be covering the outcomes and implications of both reviews.Both Malaysia and South Korea will also be reviewing their official rates. The Malaysian will likely leave their rate unchanged at 3.00%, and the South Koreans are expected to cut theirs by -25 bps to 2.25%.In the US, apparently negotiating trade deals is complicated (who knew?) so Trump is dispensing with all that and just "sending letters" unilaterally. "90 deals in 90 days" is too hard for him. He might have got one over the line with Vietnam (he claims but the Vietnamese haven't confirmed). He sort of got one with the UK but before the 90 day clock started. And the China one he claims leaves the US in a worse position. His Treasury Secretary is promising "a few more" over the next few days and weeks. "Best deal maker of all time".And we should probably note that the integrity of official US data, from the Census Bureau, the BLS and the BEA, all now under Trump control (in the Lutnick Commerce Department), is getting increasingly questioned. Sharp budget cutbacks is resulting in fewer actual surveys, more 'estimates by officials'. Even Fed boss Powell expressed concern over the issue in questioning at the recent Congressional testimony. The data reporters are moving to a "Make Trump Look Good" approach.Suspicion is rising because there are widespread indications tariff-tax price increases are being pushed through but the BLS data isn't reflecting that.In China we will get CPI and PPI updates for June later this week. It would be supremely ironic if users came to view Chinese economic data was more trustworthy than American. It no longer seems far-fetched.Across the Pacific in Japan, household spending jumped +4.7% in May from a year ago, reversing a -0.1% fall in April and far exceeding an expected +1.2% rise. It was their fastest growth since August 2022, and that August 2022 was only good because it was off the very weak pandemic-affected base a year earlier.Singaporean retail sales rose by +1.4% in May from a year ago, accelerating from a downwardly revised +0.2% rise in April. This was the third straight month of growth and the fastest annual increase since January. But to be fair, most of the increase was driven by car sales, a very expensive and exclusive corner of their retail sector.Next, halfway around the world, EU producer prices eased again in May so that it is only +0.4% higher than year ago levels, less in the euro area. The past three months have delivered producer prices lower than in each of the prior months.German factory orders dropped by -1.4% in May from April and that was weaker than expected, but the April gain was revised higher. The May weakness however came after some very large-scale computer, electronic and optical orders in April. From a year ago, these factory orders were up +5.3%.And we should probably note that EU house prices are rising, up +5.7% from a year ago led by 10%-plus gains in Portugal (+16%), Bulgaria (+15%), Croatia (+13%), Slovakia (+12%), Hungary (+12%), and Spain (+12%).In Australia, household spending rose in May and by more than expected with a good recovery from a weak month in April. This spending was up +4.2% from May a year ago. It was their best gain in 7 months.The FAO food price index was little-changed in June from May, holding its gains from a year ago. Within that, both meat and dairy prices rose.The UST 10yr yield is now at 4.33%, and unchanged from yesterday. The price of gold will start today at US$3,336/oz, and unchanged from Saturday.American oil prices are unchanged at just under US$66.50/bbl while the international Brent price is also little-changed at just under US$68.50/bbl.The Kiwi dollar is now just on 60.6 USc, unchanged from Saturday. For the week it is up +20 bps. Against the Aussie we are up +10 bps at 92.5 AUc. Against the euro we are up +10 bps at 51.5 euro cents. That all means our TWI-5 starts today at just under 68 and up +10 bps from yesterday, and unchanged for the week.The bitcoin price starts today at US$108,921 and up +1.0% from this time yesterday. Volatility over the past 24 hours has been low at just on +/-0.5%.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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