FX News

The Australian Dollar (AUD) remains the currency of choice for traders as it outperforms across the board. Against the US Dollar (USD) it holds firm in its bull trend despite falling from a lofty 0.7650 last week to 0.7395 yesterday. Improvements overnight with equity markets posting profits has the cross back at 0.7450 at the bottom of the recent range and poised to push higher we believe. Today’s Australian jobs data should boost prices with expectations of a bumper unemployment read at under 4%. US inflation rose to 8.5% in March up from February’s 8.4% the highest since December 1981 increasing stakes of rapid tightening by the Federal Reserve over the coming months opening up broad based big dollar demand. It certainly will be a good tussle between the two central banks, for now we support further upswings and a retest eventually of 0.7580.

Exchange Rate:
The current interbank midrate is: AUDUSD 0.7452
The interbank range this week has been: AUDUSD 0.7390- 0.7493

Risk sentiment has driven price moves this week in the Australian Dollar (AUD), Euro (EUR) pair, pushing higher to 0.6905 (1.4480) before slipping to 0.6840 (1.4620) into Thursday trading as equity markets improved overnight. The war between Ukraine and Russia entered the 50th day of battle with the Ukrainian President Zelenskiy saying the war will become an “endless bloodbath” without more weapons. Zelenskiy said the Ukrainian people have been defending itself far longer than the Russian army had planned. Justin Trudeau has followed calls from US President Biden calling what’s happening “a genocide”. Reports confirm over 1000 Ukrainian soldiers have surrendered and the port has been captured. Both Eurozone and German economic sentiment indexes have printed negative reflecting the situation in particular Germany worsened the second drop since the war began and similar to the read around the beginning of covid 19 in March 2020. The long-term bull channel remains solid with price predicted to retest 0.7000 (1.4300) over the following couple of weeks.

Exchange Rates:
The current interbank midrate is: AUDEUR 0.6847 EURAUD 1.4604
The interbank range this week has been: AUDEUR 0.6808- 0.6903 EURAUD 1.4486- 1.4688

The English Pound (GBP) recovered off the recent low of 1.7170 (0.5825) to gain on the Australian Dollar (AUD) the second week running reaching 1.7600 (0.5680) early this morning. Risk off mood causing US equity prices to close lower led to the rebound as well as rising UK inflation. UK CPI printed at 7.0% for March increasing from February’s 6.2%, the highest it’s been since March 1992 due to massive rises in energy and fuel prices. The UK will look to continue with its rapid tightening cycle, those BoE members who were dovish the last hike may not be now. Looking ahead we have Aussie employment data which forecast the unemployment rate to go under 4.0% for the first time this century. On the chart Iron ore looks to push back above the 150.00 area taking the AUD along for the ride, look for a retest of the weekly open at 0.5725 (1.7470) over the coming days.

Exchange Rate:
The current interbank midrate is: AUDGBP 0.5683 GBPAUD 1.7596
The interbank range this week has been: AUDGBP 0.5678- 0.5747 GBPAUD 1.7398- 1.7610

The New Zealand Dollar (NZD) improved to 0.6370 (1.5700) midweek on poor risk sentiment against the Euro (EUR) before losing gains to 0.6240 (1.6020) Friday post RBNZ rate announcement. The New Zealand Central bank hiked their interest rate to 1.5% from 1.0% – analysts were split on a 0.25% or 0.50% rise. The 50-point move is the first half a percent rise since November 1999 aimed at bringing down an overheating inflation expected to grow to over 7.0% in this cycle. The war in Ukraine entered its 50th day of fighting- the Ukrainian president Zelenskiy saying unless their fighters receive more weapons the war will become an “endless bloodbath” .. the Ukrainian fighters have defended their country far longer than the Russian army had anticipated. Overnight German and Eurozone economic sentiment came in poor two months in a row with the read similar to conditions at the beginning of covid in March 2020. We expect the kiwi to kick back based on overbought EUR conditions heading through tonight’s ECB policy statement and rate release.

Exchange Rates:
The current interbank midrate is: NZDEUR 0.6247 EURNZD 1.6007
The interbank range this week has been: NZDEUR 0.6230- 0.6372 EURNZD 1.5693- 1.6049

It’s been a risk off week generally with the British Pound (GBP) extending late last week gains against the New Zealand Dollar (NZD) to 1.9315 (0.5180) this morning. The RBNZ hiked its interest rate from 1.0% to 1.5% using the only tool they have to try to bring down rising inflation. The 50-point move was the first time in 22 years aimed purely to rein in inflation expectations which is expected to grow to over 7.0%. Initially the kiwi spiked to 1.8860 post the release but was later sold off even in the wake of improvements in overnight equity reversals. The Pound got a further leg up when UK CPI rose overnight to 7.0% from 6.2% in February marking the highest it’s been since March 1992. Coming in above the 6.7% forecast mainly due to rising fuel and energy costs. With inflation overheating bigtime the UK runs the risk of stagflation. We think 0.5180 (1.9300) will hold into next week as the NZD recovers.

Exchange Rate:
The current interbank midrate is: NZDGBP 0.5184 GBPNZD 1.9290
The interbank range this week has been: NZDGBP 0.5176- 0.5305 GBPNZD 1.8848- 1.9319

The New Zealand Dollar (NZD) rose initially off the back of US weakness to just shy of 0.6900 levels into Wednesday buoyed also by buyer interest post the RBNZ announcement. The RBNZ raised their cash rate to 1.5% from 1.0% the first time we have seen a rise of 50 points since November 1999 signalling a hard view of the need to bring down rising inflation. CPI is predicted to peak to over 7% amid this tightening cycle, the central bank felt the need to go hard sooner rather than later. Inflation in the US hit a 40 year high of 8.5% midweek the highest it’s been since December 1981- this was slightly higher than forecasts at 8.4%. The main influencer being energy prices with Gas up 48% and energy 32%, food also jumping nearly 9%. The war in Ukraine produced a perfect storm of supply and demand woes and cementing expectations that the Federal Reserve will raise rates again by 50 points at their May meeting. We have key data out tonight with US Retail Sales before Fed member Mester speaks. On the chart, the bull channel in place since late January looks to have broken down this week signalling possible further downside for the kiwi.

Exchange Rates:
The current interbank midrate is: NZDUSD 0.6802
The interbank range this week has been: NZDUSD 0.6752- 0.6899

The Australian Dollar (AUD) orbited to 1.0960 (0.9355) vs the New Zealand Dollar (NZD) in this morning trading posting a fresh 9 month high and muscling past earlier resistance at 1.0920 (0.9160). The Official RBNZ Cash rate caused commotion when the central bank raised the interest rate from 1.0% to 1.5%- initially the kiwi surged to 1.0830 (0.9235) but was soon sold off unable to hold gains as dovish RBNZ communication filtered through markets. Commodity prices continue to impress, outperforming the Aussie. Today’s Australian job’s data is predicted to shine with the unemployment rate expected to come in under 4.0% the first time in well over 20 years. A weekly close below 0.9125 (1.0960) marks a January 2017 low and would signal further upside pressures in the AUD.

Exchange Rates:
The current interbank midrate is:NZDAUD 0.9123 AUDNZD 1.0951
The interbank range this week has been: NZDAUD 0.9114- 0.9242 AUDNZD 1.0821- 1.0972

Key Points:

• ECB’s Nagel has said the central bank will make a rate decision in the May meeting- interest rates are expected to be hiked earlier than predicted and could rise to 1.5% to 2.0% in the long term
• Shanghai is in the middle of a complete lockdown with the population of 26 million been tested
• The UK is gearing up to send armoured vehicles to Ukraine
• Australian Trade Balance figures reported a large miss in February at 7.46B with expectations of 12B predicted
• Bank of Japan’s Noguchi sayings if energy prices continue to rise it will raise inflation and dampen the economy
• Calls by analysts post the earlier week’s RBA meeting are suggesting the RBA could lift rates in the May meeting forward from August after Governor Lowe was more hawkish than anticipated 
• Indications from the FOMC suggest they will hike the Fed rate 50 points in early May and again later in the year

The Euro (EUR) Extended its run of declines through Wednesday the cross posting 0.6980 (1.4320) a fresh April 2017 – 4 year high. Eurozone sentiment is still being pounded with March figures dropping 5 points to 108 against expectations of 109 as consumer confidence nose dives. Ukraine is seeking much tougher sanctions on Russia as the war rages on leaving more than 4 million people either killed, injured, or vacated. Nearly a quarter of the population have been left1 homeless leaving Russia nearly totally isolated on the world stage. Ukraine president Zelenskiy has said more needs to be done as they are left vulnerable to further attacks. US and European equities improved Thursday improving sentiment and moving price in the cross back to 0.6880 (1.4540). The key standout on next week’s economic docket is the ECB rate release and statement.

Exchange Rates:
The current interbank midrate is: AUDEUR 0.6881 EURAUD 1.4532
The interbank range this week has been: AUDEUR 0.6777- 0.6985 EURAUD 1.4317- 1.4755