IRAN: Top Advisor Discusses Conditions For Nuclear Deal - NBC

May-14 23:14

Headlines have crossed from an NBC interview with Ali Shamkhani, who is a top advisor to Iran's Supreme leader,  Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The interview focusses on a potential US-Iran nuclear deal, which would include lowered sanctions on Iran. See this link for more details. 

  • NBC notes: "...He said Iran would commit to never making nuclear weapons, getting rid of its stockpiles of highly-enriched Uranium which can be weaponized, agree to only enrich Uranium to the lower levels needed for civilian use, and allow international inspectors to supervise the process, in exchange for the immediate lifting of all economic sanctions on Iran."
  • "Shamkhani sat down with NBC News just hours after Trump offered Iran “an olive branch” that was combined with threats crippling economic sanctions should Iran not an accept an agreement to limit the country’s nuclear program."
  • NBC adds: "The U.S. and Iran have been holding talks over Tehran’s nuclear program for weeks, with Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, calling the last round in Muscat, the capital of Oman, “encouraging.” 

 

Historical bullets

BONDS: NZGBS: Richer With US Tsys, RBNZ Conway Talks Impact Of Tariffs

Apr-14 23:12

In local morning trade, NZGBs are 4bps richer after a solid rally by US tsys. 

  • Overnight, US tsys found some relief and rallied most of the day. The US 10-year yield ranged from 4.3583% to 4.4816%, closing near the lows around 4.37%. Trump’s decision to exempt certain technology products stoked risk appetite, and the price action pointed to money being put back to work.
  • In a speech posted on the RBNZ website, Chief Economist Paul Conway stated: “To reiterate key messages made by the Monetary Policy Committee in our Monetary Policy Review last week, higher tariffs and uncertainty about global trade policy mean economic activity globally and in New Zealand will most likely be weaker than expected.” “At this stage, the likely impacts on inflation in New Zealand are more ambiguous, but the balance of risks has shifted to the downside.”
  • March food prices rise 0.5% m/m.
  • Swap rates are 5-6bps lower.
  • RBNZ dated OIS pricing is little changed across meetings out to February 2026. 31bps of easing is priced for May, with a cumulative 80bps by November 2025.
  • On Thursday, the NZ Treasury plans to sell NZ$275mn of the 3.00% Apr-29 bond and NZ$225mn of the 4.25% May-36 bond.

GOLD: Profit Taking as New Tariff Situation Assessed. 

Apr-14 23:02
  • For any investor, the chopping and changing on tariffs is difficult and gold is no different.
  • Having hit new highs, yesterday saw gold slip lower into the close as profit taking on strong gains was evident.
  • Gold had hit a new high of US$3,245.74 before slipping lower into close at $3,210.93
  • South African miner Gold Fields Ltd has been ordered to stop mining its lease and leave one of its mines in Ghana after the rejection of a lease extension.
  • West Australian miner Bellevue Gold is the target of several takeovers as the soaring cost of gold eats into its cashflow due to soaring hedge costs.
  • The PBOC is offering increased quotas to banks for gold imports to meet the domestic demand from institutional and retail investors.
  • Despite the overnight decline, gold remains steadfast above all major moving averages with the nearest, the 20-day EMA, at $3,090.32

MNI: UK BRC MAR BY VALUE SHOP SALES LFL +0.9% YY, TOTAL +1.1% YY

Apr-14 23:01
  • MNI: UK BRC MAR BY VALUE SHOP SALES LFL +0.9% YY, TOTAL +1.1% YY

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