New Zealand dollar hits 7-week low as RBNZ steps up easing
SYDNEY, Oct 9 (Reuters) -The New Zealand dollar hit a seven-week low on Wednesday after the central bank stepped up policy easing with a half-point rate cut, sending bond yields lower.
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand wrapped up its latest policy meeting by cutting the official cash rate by 50 basis points to 4.75%, after a quarter-point reduction in August.
The RBNZ removed a line in its statement that policy would need to remain restrictive for some time. Future changes would instead depend on its evolving assessment of the economy, the central bank said.
Markets, which had already priced in a near 100% chance of a half-point cut, are leaning towards another move of the same magnitude in November, with about 80% priced in. Rates are seen at 3.0% by the end of 2025. 0#RBNZWATCH
Investors reacted by knocking the kiwi dollar down 0.6% to $0.6103 NZD=D3, breaching a key support level of $0.6105, the low from September. It has support at the 200-day moving average of $0.6097.
Two-year swap rates NZDSM3NB2Y= dropped 5 basis points to 3.62%.
"While today's meeting did not provide updated forecasts and wasn't accompanied by a press conference, the forward guidance in the decision statement sounded dovish, allowing the RBNZ the flexibility to cut rates again before year-end," said Tony Sycamore, analyst at IG.
The Reserve Bank of Australia is seen holding rates steady at 4.35% for the time being, with futures implying around a 50% chance it might ease in December.
The contrast helped the Aussie AUDNZD=R gain 0.5% on Wednesday to NZ$1.1047, although it faces heavy resistance at NZ$1.1055.
Against the U.S. dollar, the Australian dollar AUD=D3 was flat at $0.6743, having slipped 0.2% overnight to as far as $0.6713, the lowest level in three weeks, as commodity prices tumbled.
China's stimulus rally is losing steam after the latest stimulus measures from top regulators failed to excite investors. The Aussie is seen as a liquid proxy for China given the Australian economy's heavy dependence on commodity exports.
Reporting by Stella Qiu; Editing by Jamie Freed
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.
