Home Daily Commentaries NZD retreats as our focus turns to US inflation update

NZD retreats as our focus turns to US inflation update

Daily Currency Update

The New Zealand dollar retreated through trade on Tuesday, unable to extend gains beyond resistance at US$0.6340/50. With little of note on the local macroeconomic docket, the NZD tracked sideways through the domestic session before markets adopted a more cautious approach to risk ahead of President Biden’s meeting with House Speaker McCarthy to discuss the looming debt ceiling crisis and headline US CPI data. Having touched intraday lows at US$0.6317 the NZD edged marginally higher into the daily open where it currently buys US$0.6333.
With little of note on the domestic ticket today our attentions turn to US CPI data tonight. Consensus expectations predict a small lift in core price pressures forcing us to narrow our focus toward the breakdown of inflation drivers, with particular emphasis on service sectors. Even a print in line with expectations will afford the Fed little comfort and anything short of a marked decline in price pressures will all but sure up at least one more rate hike.

Key Movers

The US dollar was stronger through trade on Tuesday as markets adopted a more cautious tone ahead of key risk events. President Biden is set to meet with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in a bid to alleviate pressures caused by the looming debt ceiling issue. With Republicans calling for strict spending cuts and budget restraint we don’t anticipate a deal will be agreed upon at this meeting. Instead at best a small extension will be afforded ensuring the risk of missed interest repayments on US debt is avoided until firm resolution is agreed. Without firm action Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned the US could default on its June 1 repayments. With market uncertainty elevated investors appeared content in chasing haven assets and turning our attention to tonight’s US CPI print. With little hope of a consolidated decline in price pressures, we turn our focus to the breakdown in inflation. With service sector costs continuing to rise we are keenly attuned to any further extension in service costs, pricing a small lift in headline and core price pressures. With markets adopting a risk-off tone the euro slid below US$1.0950, While the pound tracked sideways ahead of tomorrow’s Bank of England Policy update and the yen more or less traded flat.

Expected Ranges

  • NZD/USD: 0.6250 - 0.6380 ▼
  • NZD/EUR: 0.5720 - 0.562 ▲
  • GBP/NZD: 1.9720 - 2.0120 ▲
  • NZD/AUD: 0.9280 - 0.9420 ▲
  • NZD/CAD: 0.8430 - 0.8530 ▼