New Zealand dollar skids as RBNZ cuts rates, flags more to come
By Wayne Cole
SYDNEY, Aug 14 (Reuters) -The New Zealand dollar slammed into reverse on Wednesday after the central bank cut interest rates a year earlier than its own projections and signalled a lot more to come, sending bond yields diving.
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) wrapped up its latest policy meeting by cutting the official cash rate (OCR) by 25 basis points to 5.25%, the first easing since early 2020.
"With headline CPI inflation expected to return to the target band in the September quarter and growing excess capacity expected to support a continued decline in domestic inflation, the Committee agreed there was scope to temper the extent of monetary policy restraint," the RBNZ said.
It cautioned that policy would need to be restrictive for a while yet, but still projected a cash rate of 4.92% by December and 3.85% at the end of 2025.
Markets had priced in a near 69% chance of a quarter-point cut following a string of softer economic data and a dovish turn by the central bank back in July.
Analysts had been more split, with 19 of 31 polled by Reuters expecting rates to stay on hold this week.
Investors reacted by knocking the kiwi dollar down 0.75% to $0.6032 NZD=D3, erasing most of the 1% gains made overnight as soft U.S. producer price data slugged the U.S. dollar.
Swaps shifted to imply another 29 basis points of easing by October and 67 basis points of easing by year end. Rates are seen near 3.0% by the end of 2025, well below the RBNZ's projection. Bank bill futures 0#NBB: also jumped.0#RBNZWATCH
"Today's RBNZ cut flags the potential path global policy rates could pivot to, perhaps sooner than their own guidance," said Krishna Bhimavarapu, APAC economist at State Street Global Advisors.
"Policy rates have been sufficiently restrictive in most economies, including the U.S. and especially Australia, and this is the time for central banks to safeguard growth and ensure soft-landing."
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has been signalling there was little scope for a rate cut this year given inflation remains stubbornly high.
Futures still imply around a 58% chance it might ease in November, in part because the Federal Reserve will likely have joined many other major central banks in easing by then.
The limited outlook for easing helped underpin the Aussie at $0.6625 AUD=D3, after rising 0.7% overnight to reach a three-week high of $0.66395. Resistance lies at $0.6644 and $0.6702, with support at $0.6600.
Reporting by Wayne Cole; editing by Miral Fahmy
Related Assets
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.
