AUD

The New Zealand Dollar (NZD) closed the week lower at 0.4805 (2.0800) against the British Pound (GBP) after making it through to 0.4840 (2.0660) earlier. Not a lot of late data wise has been going on in the pair with flows following broader based USD moves. The standout this week is monthly UK GDP for January. With the cross failing to push past 0.4785 (2.0900) last week we favour moves towards 0.4855 (2.0600) over the week.

Current Level: 0.4810
Resistance: 0.4870
Support: 0.4780
Last Weeks Range: 0.4781- 0.4839

The weakness in the NZD/AUD rate continues, with the cross rate falling to 0.9270. This remains historically high, but has fallen considerably from early 2024 highs, of 0.9450. The cross rate this week will be largely determined by the RBA, in their latest meeting, to be held today, 19 th March. The RBA will almost certainly leave rates unchanged, but the narrative will be crucial. If the RBA remains ‘hawkish’, we could see some more downside, on the NZD cross-rate.

Current Level: 1.0725
Resistance: 1.0850
Support: 1.0650
Last Weeks Range: 1.0713- 1.0784

Prices in the New Zealand Dollar (NZD), Australian Dollar (AUD) cross continues to be mainly AUD supportive from the high at 0.9460 (1.0570) a fortnight ago to 0.9330 (1.0720) today. We have a thin economic docket this week with no tier one data publishing. Markets look towards the following week when we have RBA cash announcement and NZ GDP q/q. Chinese Import data has certainly assisted the AUD of late along with predictions the RBNZ wont hike again in this cycle and rate cuts likely to start in the August meeting which have been also priced into recent moves.

Current Level: 0.9326
Resistance: 0.9380
Support: 0.9250
Last Weeks Range: 0.9305- 0.9384

The New Zealand Dollar (NZD) pushed up against the US Dollar (USD) into the close to 0.6170 after recovering from areas around 0.6060. The 8-week high at 0.6219 held Friday before falling back to 0.6160 Monday. US Non-Farm Payroll came in well above expectation Friday with 353,000 new jobs being added to the economy in January. This sank the greenback across the board with investors exciting the currency. Markets await Wednesday’s US CPI data release with predictions of no change from 3.1%. We expect prices in the pair to drift back towards the 0.6120 area.

Current Level: 0.6167
Support: 0.6150
Resistance: 0.6200
Last week’s range: 0.6067- 0.6215

The AUD/EUR has been weakening all of 2024, from highs in January of just below 0.6200, to testing of the ‘Big Figure’ of 0.6000, to the downside. The inherent weakness of the commodity currency has driven the fall, while the ECB’s reticence to alter tight monetary policy, is a direct result of the fear of resurgent inflation. Germany is now in recession and many other member states are in the same boat, which has aided in the war on inflation, but at some time, the economic pain must be addressed with pressure to lower interest rates. The question is whether the RBA will blink before the ECB?

Current Level: 0.6043
Resistance: 0.6070
Support: 0.5990
Last Weeks Range: 0.6000- 0.6040

The NZD/EUR cross rate has been dropping most of 2024, falling from the January highs of 0.5730, back to around 0.5600. This has been a product of the weakness of the NZD and the ECB holding steady on monetary policy, as inflation continues to fall. French and German CPI inflation numbers have been steadily falling, but fears of supply pressures, have ensured the ECB holds rates higher for longer.

Current Level: 0.5630
Support: 0.5580
Resistance: 0.5660
Last week’s range: 0.5590- 0.5645

The Bank of England has been very hawkish in their approach to interest rates, holding them at high levels, despite precipitous falls in their inflation levels. This has ensured the strength of the GBP against the NZD, which has weakened from highs of just below 0.5000, to be trading around 0.4800 v the NZD. This downside bias is likely to continue into the near future, as the GBP remains supported by their Central Bank policy.

Current Level: 0.4811
Resistance: 0.4850
Support: 0.4780
Last Weeks Range: 0.4800- 0.4845

The cross rate has reached highs of 0.9450, in the last week or so, leading into the latest RBNZ Rate Decision. The NZ Central Bank’s ‘dovish’ stance has allowed the cross rate to drift off recent highs, to trade around 0.9350. The Australian CPI inflation number, released this week, was in line with expectations. The cross rate was softer due to the RBNZ dovish sentiment, but any ‘hawkish’ stance by the RBA Governor, could see the cross-rate re-test highs.

Current Level: 0.9312
Resistance: 0.9360
Support: 0.9280
Last Weeks Range: 0.9330- 0.9400