A Volatile Day in AUD & NZD, The Market Expects A Rate Cut of RBNZ - APAC Update

Xe Corporate APAC

6 août 2019 3 min read

The AUDUSD opened lower at 0.6761, and the NZDUSD opened lower at 0.6527 this morning.

It was a volatile day in the AUD and NZD yesterday.

Having been beaten lower Monday on increasing US-China trade war fears, the AUD and NZD rocketed higher after the release of surprisingly good AU April Trade Balance numbers and NZ employment data. NZ Employment grew at 0.8% in Q2 (0.5% forecast), while the unemployment rate plummeted to 3.9% (4.3% forecast) – The AUDUSD pushed up towards 0.6800 before drifting back lower; the NZDUSD quickly rallied 60 points before drifting off, and the NZDAUD surged through the 0.9700 level to 8-month highs.

The Reserve Bank of Australia held the Cash Rate at a record low 1.00% at their meeting and statement yesterday. They mentioned a willingness to adjust policy if needed and expect interest rates to remain low for an extended time.

The RBNZ Q3 Inflation Expectations numbers were released at 3pm. Both the 1 & 2-year inflation expectations fell when compared with Q2, which will be of concern to the central bank.The NZD fell across the board in response.

The RBNZ is forecast to cut the Official Cash Rate (OCR) by 0.25% to 1.25% 2pm today in response to inflation and growth concerns. The rate cut is largely priced-in by the markets, The focus will be on their forward guidance with respect to the pace and extent of further rate cuts.

The US-China trade frictions are creating a great deal of uncertainty in terms of global economic growth. Commodity currencies such as the NZD & AUD and equity markets have suffered consequently, and it increases the probability of more rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve.

China took steps yesterday to limit yuan weakness. This helped to provide some stability to the global financial markets overnight. However, a resolution to the US-China trade dispute is nowhere in sight – expected more market volatility.

Global equity markets, with the exception of the US, were lower on the day - Dow +1.0%, S&P 500 +1.2%, FTSE -0.7%, DAX -0.8%, CAC -0.1%, Nikkei -0.7%, Shanghai -1.6%.

Gold prices gained 0.4% to USD$1,471 an ounce. WTI Crude Oil prices plunged 1.6% to US$53.79   per barrel. Both commodities have been impacted by the intensifying US-China trade war – gold benefiting from safe-haven buying, while Oil falling on the potential negative impact on global growth.

Mid-market Rates

AUDUSD0.6761-0.1%NZDUSD0.65270.2%AUDEUR0.6036-0.1%NZDEUR0.5828-0.1%AUDGBP0.5555-0.3%NZDGBP0.53680-0.3%AUDJPY71.960.2%NZDJPY69.530.2%AUDNZD1.03600.1%NZDAUD0.96600.0%GBPAUD1.80020.3%NZDCAD0.86670.4% GBPNZD1.86290.3%
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