Explore the world.

Assess underlying market conditions and fundamentals in the world's major economies.

World

Stay ahead.

Follow the biggest stories in markets and economics in real time.

Subscribe

Get insight into the latest trends and developments in global currency markets with breaking news updates and research reports delivered right to your inbox.

After signing up, you will receive regular newsletters from Corpay, and may unsubscribe at any time. View Corpay’s Privacy Policy

NZD

Cross-Check: AUD/NZD – RBNZ Shock & Orr

AUD/NZD has slipped below ~$1.0630, touching a new 2023 year-to-date low in the wake of the diverging RBA and RBNZ decisions and shift in relative interest rates. The policy-driven Australia-NZ two-year swap spread has slumped to -175bps, the most negative since mid-2007. In contrast to the RBA who ‘paused’ its rate hike cycle and softened its conditional tightening bias at its April meeting (see Market Wire – RBA: over and out), the RBNZ unleashed its inner hawk and delivered another outsized 50bp hike. Consensus expectations were looking for a smaller 25bp lift, so the direction of travel wasn’t surprising, just...

Read More Read More

Rate expectations JOLTED

• Shaky sentiment. US equities and industrial metals eased back. The USD weakened, tracking the fall in US yields. EUR higher, USD/JPY lower.• US labour market turning. US JOLTS report weaker than expected. Tighter conditions are starting to work. But there is still a long way to go.• AUD underperformer. RBA pauses and waters down its guidance. RBNZ expected to hike by 25bps today, but could it also tweak its language? A more cautious tone across markets with US equities giving back some ground (S&P500 -0.6%), industrial metals easing (copper dipped ~0.9%), and US bond yields falling. US 2yr yields...

Read More Read More

Buckle up, volatility should continue

Markets have hit an air pocket, with bonds in particular experiencing some extreme moves over recent days in reaction to the unfolding US regional banking situation. In our mind, the rather forceful emergency support measures unveiled yesterday by the US FDIC, Fed, and Treasury should help contain broader financial contagion risks. That said, while this should be somewhat of a short-term circuit breaker, and suggests that the scale and speed of the adjustment in some markets like bonds and the USD may be overdone, it doesn’t necessarily mean all is right in the world and that further market ructions shouldn’t...

Read More Read More

AUD underperformance

• Higher for longer. The Fed meeting minutes reaffirmed a hawkish bias. Elevated US interest rate expectations are supporting the USD.• AUD pressure. Weaker than expected wages data has seen RBA rate hike bets pared back. Relative differentials point to further AUD weakness.• AUD crosses. European growth indicators continue to surprise, pointing to a lower AUD/EUR. AUD/NZD weighed down by a ‘hawkish’ RBNZ. A mixed night across the major markets, with European and US equities consolidating and bond yields down a few basis points. After hitting a fresh 3-month high the US 10-year bond yield has eased back slightly, but...

Read More Read More

Rates rethink

• Higher bond yields. Stronger services PMI data in Europe and the US has seen interest rate markets adjust further. This has weighed on risk sentiment.• USD firm. The lift in US yields is supporting the USD. AUD has drifted back. Locally, wages data is released today.• AUD/NZD in focus. RBNZ announcement today. Will the RBNZ stay the course and hike by 50bps, or will it hold back given the cyclone impacts? A negative night for markets with investor sentiment shaken by another jump in bond yields as positive economic data fueled expectations central banks, particularly the US Fed, have...

Read More Read More