SYDNEY: The Australian dollar hit a two-month high on the yen on Thursday as markets scaled back expectations for Japanese rate hikes, while the New Zealand dollar suffered from wagers of more aggressive policy easing at home.
The Aussie was up at 101.25 yen, having jumped 2% overnight to clear resistance around the 100.00 barrier. The yen slid broadly after new Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba came out against another rise in interest rates.
Ishiba had been considered a hawk on policy until winning power last week, when he changed tack.
Against the U.S. dollar, the Aussie was a fraction lower at
$0.6870, having found support around $0.6850 overnight. Resistance is up at the recent 19-month top of $0.6942.
The kiwi dollar trailed badly at $0.6237, after slipping 0.3% overnight to test $0.6250. A break of the latter opens the way to $0.6180.
It also slid to a six-week low on the Aussie as more banks boarded the bandwagon for outsized rate cuts. Markets are now 100% priced for a half-point easing in the 5.25% cash rate when the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) meets on Oct. 9.
They are almost fully priced for another 50 basis points at the November meeting, and even imply a decent chance of a third such move at the following meeting in February.
"Now that a 50bp cut is consensus amongst economists and market traders, it's actually harder NOT to deliver a 50bp cut," said Jarrod Kerr, chief economist at Kiwibank.
He noted the RBNZ's estimate of neutral for rates was 2.75%, so such outsized cuts would only make policy less restrictive, not outright stimulatory.
"Chunky cuts would cement market pricing and allow banks to pass on the lower rates to customers," said Kerr. "We're arguing that the RBNZ should cut to 2.5%, the lighter side of neutral, with a hint of stimulus."
Markets seem to agree and have rates down at 3.0% by August next year.
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is seen moving glacially in contrast, with the chance of a first cut in November put at just 16%. A December move is priced at 72%, but many analysts think it will hold out until February given sticky core inflation.
The current 4.35% cash rate is seen at 3.35% by the end of 2025, compared to 2.93% in the United States and 1.69% in the European Union.
Indeed, dovish comments from European Central Bank policymakers overnight cemented calls for two more cuts this year and pulled the euro down to a three-month low on the Aussie at A$1.6002. - Reuters
