Fundamental bias: Strong bullish
1. Developments surrounding the global risk outlook.
As a high-beta currency, NZD has remained broadly well supported in times of risk-on and as the overall risk outlook and tolerance of the market has improved over recent months. With coronavirus vaccines programs now underway in many countries, we expect the months ahead to see a further gradual improvement in the overall risk outlook and global economic outlook.
2. The Monetary Policy outlook for the RBNZ
Going into 2021, the monetary policy outlook for the RBNZ were positive after the bank pushed back against the need for negative rates, as well as a string of positive economic data points showed the impact from the pandemic was less severe on the NZ economy than previously anticipated. However, optimism has diminished in recent sessions as new legislation by New Zealand's government to cool its housing market is expected to provide the RBNZ with more time before being forced to normalize policy. Consequently, that saw market expectations for the timing of future rate hikes being pushed back. However, at their May policy meeting the bank confirmed the market’s expectations that they will follow in the BOC’s footsteps to signal a move away from ultra-easy monetary policy, by bringing forward rate hike expectations to as early as 2022. Recall that during their February policy meeting the uncertainty was high enough for the bank to provide no guidance on interest rates past March 2021, so for the bank to provide guidance for rates to rise next year and for further higher rates running into 2024 shows a very hawkish tilt as it was a material change in the bank’s optimism for the economy, both now and going forward. After the RBNZ’s shift we have upgraded our bias for the bank from BULLISH to STRONG BULLISH as we anticipate the shift to provide a favourable sentiment for the NZD in the short-term.
3. The country’s economic and health developments
With the new macroprudential policies put in place by the NZ government, it will be very important to keep close track of the virus situation in NZ as well as the incoming data. Due to the recent Macroprudential policies put in place by the NZ government our focus has turned to the incoming economic data as a guideline for whether the RBNZ will potentially move forward with tapering QE this year or not. This week’s upcoming quarterly GDP data will be in focus for the currency, especially after the surprising softer price action we’ve seen recently. For now, the fundamental bias remains intact and agree with ING investment bank that the recent underperformance in the currency is not warranted by the fundamentals which still point to strength ahead for the NZD.
1. Developments surrounding the global risk outlook.
As a high-beta currency, NZD has remained broadly well supported in times of risk-on and as the overall risk outlook and tolerance of the market has improved over recent months. With coronavirus vaccines programs now underway in many countries, we expect the months ahead to see a further gradual improvement in the overall risk outlook and global economic outlook.
2. The Monetary Policy outlook for the RBNZ
Going into 2021, the monetary policy outlook for the RBNZ were positive after the bank pushed back against the need for negative rates, as well as a string of positive economic data points showed the impact from the pandemic was less severe on the NZ economy than previously anticipated. However, optimism has diminished in recent sessions as new legislation by New Zealand's government to cool its housing market is expected to provide the RBNZ with more time before being forced to normalize policy. Consequently, that saw market expectations for the timing of future rate hikes being pushed back. However, at their May policy meeting the bank confirmed the market’s expectations that they will follow in the BOC’s footsteps to signal a move away from ultra-easy monetary policy, by bringing forward rate hike expectations to as early as 2022. Recall that during their February policy meeting the uncertainty was high enough for the bank to provide no guidance on interest rates past March 2021, so for the bank to provide guidance for rates to rise next year and for further higher rates running into 2024 shows a very hawkish tilt as it was a material change in the bank’s optimism for the economy, both now and going forward. After the RBNZ’s shift we have upgraded our bias for the bank from BULLISH to STRONG BULLISH as we anticipate the shift to provide a favourable sentiment for the NZD in the short-term.
3. The country’s economic and health developments
With the new macroprudential policies put in place by the NZ government, it will be very important to keep close track of the virus situation in NZ as well as the incoming data. Due to the recent Macroprudential policies put in place by the NZ government our focus has turned to the incoming economic data as a guideline for whether the RBNZ will potentially move forward with tapering QE this year or not. This week’s upcoming quarterly GDP data will be in focus for the currency, especially after the surprising softer price action we’ve seen recently. For now, the fundamental bias remains intact and agree with ING investment bank that the recent underperformance in the currency is not warranted by the fundamentals which still point to strength ahead for the NZD.