New Zealand Dollar Falls Back
The New Zealand dollar slipped to around $0.571 on Friday, moving back near a ten-week low after rising 0.3% in the previous session, as a firmer US dollar continued to weigh on the currency. The greenback clung to a seven-week high after the Federal Reserve hiked rates and signaled further tightening ahead. This outweighed support from better-than-expected domestic data. New Zealand’s GDP growth in the second quarter beat estimates, suggesting some resilience in economic activity despite the severe energy shock from US-Iran war. In addition, the country’s trade deficit narrowed more than anticipated in August, as export growth outpaced the increase in imports. Meanwhile, markets are pricing in a 65% chance that the Reserve Bank of New Zealand will raise its cash rate again to 3.0% at its October meeting. The kiwi was down around 1.6% so far this week, marking its fourth consecutive weekly decline.
3% in the previous session, as a firmer US dollar continued to weigh on the currency. The greenback clung to a seven-week high after the Federal Reserve hiked rates and signaled further tightening ahead. This outweighed support from better-than-expected domestic data. New Zealand’s GDP growth in the second quarter beat estimates, suggesting some resilience in economic activity despite the severe energy shock from US-Iran war.
In addition, the country’s trade deficit narrowed more than anticipated in August, as export growth outpaced the increase in imports. 0% at its October meeting. 6% so far this week, marking its fourth consecutive weekly decline.