Skip to Content
News & Analysis at your fingertips.

We use a range of cookies to give you the best possible browsing experience. By continuing to use this website, you agree to our use of cookies.
You can learn more about our cookie policy here, or by following the link at the bottom of any page on our site. See our updated Privacy Policy here.

Free Trading Guides
Subscribe
Please try again
Select

Live Webinar Events

0

Economic Calendar Events

0

Notify me about

Live Webinar Events
Economic Calendar Events

H

High

M

Medium

L

Low
More View More
RBNZ Preview: How will the New Zealand Dollar React?

RBNZ Preview: How will the New Zealand Dollar React?

What's on this page
Please add a description for the image.

NZD/USD, RBNZ Price Analysis & News

  • Balance of Risks Gearing Up for a 50bps Rate Hike
  • OCR Projection In Focus Given Market’s Aggressive Tightening View

Next week, the RBNZ is expected to raise interest rates, although, in light of far stronger than expected domestic data, the balance of risks are shifting towards a larger hike of 50bps. Currently, money markets are pricing in 36bps worth of tightening. Now while a front-loaded hike of 50bps would come as an initial surprise, focus will also turn towards the central bank’s forecast of the OCR, given that money markets are aggressively priced for 190bps worth of tightening by the end of next year.

Economic data in NZ has exceeded the RBNZ’s projection by some distance. Firstly, the latest inflation data saw a headline rate at 4.9% (RBNZ saw 4.1%, with a quarterly figure of 2.2% (vs 1.4%), while in the labour market, the unemployment rate fell to 3.4% (vs 3.9%), significantly below the RBNZ’s NAIRU estimate at 4.5%. In turn, with the RBNZ appearing to be behind the curve, this has subsequently raised expectations the Bank could deliver a larger hike than the typical 25bps increments and if there is any central bank that has the proclivity to surprise, it is the RBNZ.

What’s more, given that the next monetary policy meeting is in February, it would make sense for the RBNZ to go big now, or face the high costs of having to re-anchor inflation expectations. Keep in mind, that 2yr inflation expectations rose to 2.96% in Q3 from 2.26%, marking a 10yr high. In turn, while I am reminded of RBNZ Hawkesby’s comments that the path of least regrets is taking considered steps, in other words, raising the OCR in 25bps increments, these comment were made in September, prior the hot inflation and jobs figures currently on show.

The rationale being that money markets had fully priced in a 25bps hike and even had a 20% probability of 50bps hike, not to mention the 65bps worth of tightening that had been priced in by the end of the year. In turn, this would set the bar very high for a hawkish surprise and thus a 25bps hike would have disappointed those calling for 50bps.

How to Trade Forex News: An Introduction

What I Think Could Happen at the Meeting

  • I expect a 50bps hike following the very strong domestic story on the inflation and employment front. Therefore, would expect the Kiwi to spike on a 50bps move given markets are pricing in 36bps of tightening.
  • The risk however, is the OCR projection given that markets are very aggressive in its view of RBNZ tightening and this is where the possibility where Kiwi gains are faded, should the OCR path come significantly below current market pricing. Reminder that the August projection showed the OCR at 1.6% at the end of 2022 and a high of 2.1% over the forecast horizon, compared to current market pricing of 2.4% by end of 2022. That’s a high bar to surprise on.

In the event that the RBNZ raises interest rates by only 25bps, expect the Kiwi to come under pressure with AUD/NZD seeing another look above 1.0400.

Cross to Watch: NZD/JPY

Despite today’s bout of risk aversion, I still favour NZD/JPY from the bullish side and should we see a 50bps hike, this may be enough to kick start a break out. Of course, the OCR projection is important as is the risks surrounding lockdowns in Europe.

NZD/JPY: Daily Time Frame

Source: Refinitiv

AUD/NZD now trading at roughly fair value, having traded at relatively rich levels vs spreads, highlighted earlier in the week.

AUD/NZD vs AU/NZ 10YR SPREADS

Source: Refinitiv

DailyFX provides forex news and technical analysis on the trends that influence the global currency markets.

DISCLOSURES