AUD/GBP Transfer

Detrimental news out of China this week pulled back risk currencies of recent moves, the Australian Dollar (AUD) no exception coming off 0.5200 (1.9230) levels to make 0.5175 (1.9330) early Friday. To be fair on the Pound, UK manufacturing wasn’t exactly a bumper read helping the pull back in the GBP. Recent rate hikes doing the job of sparking a renewed downturn in business activity, the question remains – is it enough to deter the Bank of England (BoE) from raising rates again.?. Buying GBP may want to consider.

The current interbank midrate is: AUDGBP 0.5092    GBPAUD 1.9638

The interbank range this week has been: AUDGBP 0.5018- 0.5101    GBPAUD 1.9603- 1.9925

AUD/USD Transfer

After 5 weeks of downside moves in the Australian Dollar (AUD), US Dollar (USD) the cross took a breather trading just above the weekly open of 0.6402 at 0.6414 as I write. At one point trading up at 0.6485 post a positive day in equities and recovering metal prices. US manufacturing has been a talking point over the past couple of days amid a lack of other data, the index releasing at 47.0 in August compared to 49 in July the 4th consecutive month. The US economy looks to be nearing the crossroads with stagnation a real prospect with worsening spending increasing fears of pending recession. It would take a decent fundamental shift to move the cross off its downside axis, we pick further lower over the coming days/weeks.

The current interbank midrate is: AUDUSD 0.6415

The interbank range this week has been: AUDUSD 0.6387- 0.6488

NZD/USD Transfer

The New Zealand Dollar (NZD) has mostly hovered around 0.5920 over the week against the US Dollar (USD) with a short trip to 0.5980 Thursday as equities recovered. Overall, the cross looks very bearish as its peers over the precipice. NZ Retail Sales missed forecast at -1.0% vs -0.4% expected the third time in a row, supporting the pull back in consumer spending of late. US New Home sales, weekly unemployment both helped the greenback, however with upcoming talks from Fed chair Powell at the Jackson Hole Symposium on future rate predictions, we could see the Fed head in a different direction quick.

The current interbank midrate is: NZDUSD 0.5917

The interbank range this week has been: NZDUSD 0.5896- 0.5985

NZD/GBP Transfer

The New Zealand Dollar (NZD) broke out of its recent bear channel this week recovering losses to 0.4700 (2.1280) into Friday sessions against the British Pound (GBP). We are not convinced this flurry will continue with fundamentals stacked in favour of further Pound moves. NZ Retail Sales printed down on expectations at -1.0% in the June quarter compared to -0.4% expected. This is the third straight quarter of poor data reflecting lower consumer spending. UK manufacturing also came in lower, confirming a renewed downturn in business activity. Next week’s thin calendar could see the kiwi slip.

The current interbank midrate is: NZDGBP 0.4699    GBPNZD 2.1281

 

The interbank range this week has been: NZDGBP 0.4632- 0.4797    GBPNZD 2.0846- 2.1588

FX Update: China worries markets

Market Overview

Key Points:

• The New Zealand Dollar and Australian Dollar have both kicked off the week wobbly based on last week’s bearish pressures.
• The New Zealand Trade deficit widened from 0.11B to 1.11B in July as imports dropped 16% and exports fell 14%
• German producer prices fell 1.1% m/m for July vs 0.1% expected.
• US Treasury yields rise again, the 10-year bond rising to a 2007 high.
• Latest signs are that the Bank of Canada (BoC) will remain on hold at the September meeting.
• Chinese growth forecast for 2023 shifts from 5.2% to 4.8%, meanwhile the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) cuts their prime 1-year rate to 3.45% from 3.55% – no cut to the 5 year came as a surprise.
• The British Pound (GBP) has been the strongest currency this week with the Australian Dollar (AUD) the worst performer.

Major Announcements last week:
• Chinese Retail Sales y/y 2.5% vs 4.2% expected
• US Retail Sales for July 0.7% vs 0.4%
• RBNZ retain cash rate at 5.5%
• UK CPI y/y 6.8% vs 6.7% predicted
• Australia unemployment rate 3.7% up from 3.6%

AUD/EUR Transfer

Australian unemployment clicked higher to 3.7% from June’s 3.5%, the Chinese economic outlook has worsened, and the RBA were dovish leaning all helped to push the Australian Dollar (AUD) to new lows against the Euro (EUR) this morning clocking 0.5860 (1.7060) a 3 May 2020 level. German economic sentiment released slightly better than expected at -12.3 vs -15.0 which is bizarre as the economic situation has worsened lately. We expect the Euro has further to run before any change in momentum is seen.

The current interbank midrate is: AUDEUR 0.5897    EURAUD 1.6957

The interbank range this week has been: AUDEUR 0.5860- 0.5974    EURAUD 1.6738- 1.7063

AUD/GBP Transfer

The English Pound (GBP) continued to dominate moves across the main board of currencies, extending its dominance over the Australian Dollar (AUD) in a big way this week. The biggest weekly move in a year by the cross sees it trading at 0.5015 (1.9950) this morning compared to the weekly open price of 0.5130 (1.9490). Great for sellers of GBP- not so flash if you are buying. A bumper UK jobs earning number followed by an improving inflation read – 6.8% y/y in July down from June’s 7.9% won’t be enough for the Bank of England who will almost certainly bump their cash rate 50 points next month to 5.75%. There isn’t much standing in the way of the cross testing the April 2020 level of 0.4950 (2.0200) over the following days.

The current interbank midrate is: AUDGBP 0.5031    GBPAUD 1.9876

The interbank range this week has been: AUDGBP 0.5007- 0.5130    GBPAUD 1.9487- 1.9966

AUD/USD Transfer

The US Dollar (USD) has lengthened out its hold over the Australian Dollar (AUD) to 0.6400 levels this morning earlier yesterday reaching 0.6365. The cross has cleared all remaining support levels of late with the remaining significant long-term support remaining at 0.6140. A mix of factors hasn’t helped the Aussie of late- “risk” markets were softer overnight, Chinese outlook fears and a dovish RBA all contributing. On the plus side Australian unemployment jumped from 3.5% to 3.7% strengthening the case for the RBA to hold rates for some time ahead. Meanwhile the Fed minutes wash up confirmed the Federal Reserve still sees inflation risks ahead and a potential need to raise rates if required. Sell the dip, buy the rip.

The current interbank midrate is: AUDUSD 0.6419

The interbank range this week has been: AUDUSD 0.6363- 0.6520

NZD/EUR Transfer

As we suggested earlier in the week- The New Zealand Dollar (NZD) has notched up another week of declines with price reaching 0.5435 (1.8400) against the Euro (EUR). The RBNZ left the cash rate on hold at 5.50% with hawkish rhetoric suggesting they could yet hike depending on how data flows in. Also of note is the broad based “risk flow” hampering the NZD with equity markets all softening. The Eurozone grew by a modest 0.3% in the second quarter of 2023, slightly up on the first quarter’s 0.2% with Ireland making waves with their solid 3.3% the largest in the eurozone. Buy the EUR on any spike.

The current interbank midrate is: NZDEUR 0.5451   EURNZD 1.8345

The interbank range this week has been: NZDEUR 0.5435- 0.5493   EURNZD 1.8202- 1.8398

NZD/GBP Transfer

Inflation in the UK improved to 6.8% y/y down from 7.9% in June coming in bang on expectations. It’s good news for the Bank of England (BoE) however they still have work to do in order to bring down inflation further. The central bank should raise rates next month 50 basis points instead of the earlier 0.25% consensus. The New Zealand Dollar (NZD) extended its bear run over the week to clock 0.4870 (2.1530) breaking past March 2020 support, the next support is 0.4140 (2.4170), we think it will be one way traffic for a while yet.

The current interbank midrate is: NZDGBP 0.4652 GBPNZD 2.1496

The interbank range this week has been: NZDGBP 0.4644- 0.4724 GBPNZD 2.1168- 2.1533