NZD: NZD/USD - Treading Water Above 0.5900
The NZD/USD had a range overnight of 0.5910 - 0.5943, Asia is trading around 0.5925. US rates extended higher looking towards Powell's speech at Jackson Hole later in the week, this has seen the USD see some demand return as the market pares back risk going into it. The NZD/USD again found some demand back towards 0.5900 and is consolidating just above there. While still firmly in the 0.5850-0.6150 range it's tough to discern any real direction, though risks are slightly skewed to more USD upside as positions are lightened heading into Jackson Hole. Risk has opened a little higher this morning, E-minis +0.10%, NQU5 +0.10%.
- RBNZ Decision(MNI) - The RBNZ meets tomorrow and is likely to cut rates 25bp to 3.0%, the mid-point of its estimate of "neutral", after pausing at the July meeting. With measures of core inflation within the 1-3% target band, wages moderating and activity remaining subdued, the MPC is likely to determine that further easing is needed. It will also publish a revised outlook.
- (Bloomberg) -- New Zealand’s central bank is expected to cut interest rates this week, resuming its easing cycle after a pause in July as the economy shows signs of stalling. Economists predict the bank will eventually need to take the rate into stimulatory territory well below 3%, with some expecting the RBNZ to pivot more dovish and ultimately cut the OCR to 2.5% or lower.
- Options : Closest significant option expiries for NY cut, based on DTCC data: none. Upcoming Close Strikes : 0.5925(NZD400m Aug 20), 0.5980(NZD660m Aug 21). - BBG
- CFTC Data shows Asset Managers have cut their longs completely and started to rebuild a short adding slightly in the NZD -3679(Last -1811), the Leveraged community though reduced their own shorts slightly -4190(Last -6778).
- Data/Event : PPI
Fig 1: NZD/USD Spot Daily Chart
Source: MNI - Market News/Bloomberg Finance L.P
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JGB TECHS: (U5) Returns Toward Lows
- RES 3: 147.74 - High Jan 15 and bull trigger (cont)
- RES 2: 146.53 - High Aug 6
- RES 1: 141.48/142.95 - High May 2 / High Apr 7
- PRICE: 138.08 @ 16:31 GMT Jul 18
- SUP 1: 137.70 - Low Jul 16
- SUP 2: 136.57 - 1.382 proj of the Jan 28 - Feb 20 - Feb 26 bear leg
- SUP 3: 134.89 - 2.000 proj of the Jan 28 - Feb 20 - Feb 26 bear leg
JGBs hold above recent lows, however a bearish theme remains intact following the reversal posted off the mid-June highs. A continuation lower would signal scope for an extension towards 136.57, a Fibonacci projection. On the upside, the first important resistance to watch is 141.48, the May 2 high. A break of this level would be viewed as an early bullish signal.
CANADA: July BOC Cut Pricing: From Distinct Possibility To Negligible This Week
The implied probability of a July BOC rate cut has gone from a distinct possibility to negligible this week, following Tuesday's firmer-than-expected core inflation data.
- The accompanying chart shows implied pricing (in percentage points) for July's BOC decision - it dropped from around 30% implied (7+bp) prior to the labour market report last Friday, to under 20% going into CPI (4+bp), reducing after that to under 10% (<2bp).
- For the year as a whole, markets have priced out about 15bp of cuts through those two data points - now seeing about 15bp of easing through December. As such, it's very much in question whether the BOC's easing cycle is already at an end.
- Apart from the ongoing US-Canada trade negotiations, next week's scheduled highlight will be the BOC's Business Outlook Survey out Monday, followed by May Retail Sales out Thursday which will be the final major input into the macro puzzle for the BOC going into its decision on July 30.
| Meeting | Current | Last week's close (Jul 09) | Change since then | Cumulative Change From Current Rate (bp) |
| Jul 30 2025 | 2.74 | 2.68 | 5.6 | -1.9 |
| Sep 17 2025 | 2.69 | 2.60 | 9.3 | -6.0 |
| Oct 29 2025 | 2.65 | 2.53 | 12.1 | -10.5 |
| Dec 10 2025 | 2.61 | 2.45 | 15.7 | -14.6 |
USDCAD TECHS: Has Pierced The 50-Day EMA
- RES 4: 1.3920 High May 21
- RES 3: 1.3862 High May 29
- RES 2: 1.3798 High Jun 23
- RES 1: 1.3747/74 50-day EMA / High Jul 17
- PRICE: 1.3715 @ 16:56 BST Jul 18
- SUP 1: 1.3639/3557 Low Jul 08 / 03
- SUP 2: 1.3540 Low Jun 16 and the bear trigger
- SUP 3: 1.3503 1.618 proj of the Feb 3 - 14 - Mar 4 price swing
- SUP 4: 1.3473 Low Oct 2 2024
USDCAD is trading closer to its recent highs. Attention is on resistance at 1.3747, the 50-day EMA. It has been pierced. A clear break of it is required to highlight a possible stronger short-term reversal. This would open 1.3798, the Jun 23 high. For now, a bear trend remains firmly in place. A resumption of weakness would refocus attention on key support at 1.3540, the Jun 16 low. Clearance of this level would confirm a resumption of the downtrend.
