NZD: RBNZ likely to keep OCR steady next week - ANZ
NZD: RBNZ likely to keep OCR steady next week - ANZ
Research Team at ANZ, sees the RBNZ maintaining the OCR at 2.25% next week.
Key Quotes
"We are not buying into the notion that recent developments, particularly the rising NZD, bring an April cut into play. While the March surprise highlights the potential for another, the RBNZ has expressed a preference for moving on MPS as opposed to Review dates in the absence of material shifts in information.
With regards to the currency, it’s hard to see how a further rate cut could substantially influence the direction of the NZD (December and March cuts certainly didn’t) amidst actions of other central banks. The NZD is also stronger for some good reasons (better risk appetites and commodity prices). Economic information gleamed since the March MPS (domestic demand in particular) has generally augured better for the economy and nontradable inflation was a tad firmer than the RBNZ expected.
That said, we expect dovish nuances and a firm easing bias to remain (“further policy easing may be required”) – an implicit hat tip to NZD strength.
Beyond April, we consider it far from a forgone conclusion that the OCR will be cut again in June (which the RBNZ implicitly laid out in the March Statement).
We are nonetheless retaining our view that the OCR will indeed be lowered at some stage going forward. We put the probability of a June cut at 60%. The combination of dairy pressures, likely renewed global unease, elevated NZD, the pending higher average cost of funds for banks and a likely further prudential policy response towards housing are powerful forces keeping rate cuts on the table.
However for now, amidst a very solid domestic economic backdrop, we see little urgency. The weight of more positive economic developments needs to be acknowledged by the RBNZ, despite likely palpitations over NZD strength."
Research Team at ANZ, sees the RBNZ maintaining the OCR at 2.25% next week.
Key Quotes
"We are not buying into the notion that recent developments, particularly the rising NZD, bring an April cut into play. While the March surprise highlights the potential for another, the RBNZ has expressed a preference for moving on MPS as opposed to Review dates in the absence of material shifts in information.
With regards to the currency, it’s hard to see how a further rate cut could substantially influence the direction of the NZD (December and March cuts certainly didn’t) amidst actions of other central banks. The NZD is also stronger for some good reasons (better risk appetites and commodity prices). Economic information gleamed since the March MPS (domestic demand in particular) has generally augured better for the economy and nontradable inflation was a tad firmer than the RBNZ expected.
That said, we expect dovish nuances and a firm easing bias to remain (“further policy easing may be required”) – an implicit hat tip to NZD strength.
Beyond April, we consider it far from a forgone conclusion that the OCR will be cut again in June (which the RBNZ implicitly laid out in the March Statement).
We are nonetheless retaining our view that the OCR will indeed be lowered at some stage going forward. We put the probability of a June cut at 60%. The combination of dairy pressures, likely renewed global unease, elevated NZD, the pending higher average cost of funds for banks and a likely further prudential policy response towards housing are powerful forces keeping rate cuts on the table.
However for now, amidst a very solid domestic economic backdrop, we see little urgency. The weight of more positive economic developments needs to be acknowledged by the RBNZ, despite likely palpitations over NZD strength."