Japan's GDP Beat Expectations, RBNZ To Cut Rate

 | Dec 08, 2015 06:55AM ET

Forex News and Events

Japan’s 3Q GDP increased

Against all odds, Japan’s gross domestic product rose at a 1% annualized rate vs 0.2% expected and way above the preliminary reading of -0.8%. As a result, Japan is avoiding technical recession, which consists of two consecutive quarters of economic contraction. It turns out that corporate capital spending, as well as consumption were better-than-expected and drove GDP higher.

The major information out of those prints is that the GDP deflator was released and still remains at a decent level, even though below last quarter, at 1.8% y/y vs 2% y/y. It clearly shows that there is a growing inflation momentum in Japan. This could have some consequences as this now leaves some room for the Bank of Japan. However, we do not believe that more stimulus would be added at the next BoJ meeting.

For the time being, all eyes will then be focused on the Tankan report, due out next Monday. Yet, we should not forget Japan's massive debt or aging population. Inflation is the key and would help to reduce the burden of debt.

RBNZ to Cut 25bp…Yet NZD to rally

Data released from New Zealand indicated that manufacturing activity 3Q surged 4.2% q/q following an upwardly revised 1.0% increase in 2Q. Despite the positive backwards-looking result we continue to anticipate the RBNZ to cut interest rates by 25bp to 2.50% tomorrow. The rational for this dovish outlook when some central banks are retreating from their endless easing stance is based on four primary reasons. Commodity prices continued to drag on New Zealand’s economic activity. Milk prices continued to fall (over double digits since the last meeting), with expectations that demand forecasts will be cut. The broader commodity complex remains under pressure, while oil prices are slipping below $40 indicating that deflationary pressures will increase. On a trade-weighted-basis the NZD remains over 5% overvalued and with the Fed nearly completely priced in the likelihood of significant USD strength is slim. Governor Wheeler cannot rely on the Chair Yellen to do his dirty work and debase the NZD. Domestically, the housing markets show clear signals of deceleration. House sales y/y has fallen sharply in October having peaked in August 2015. While exports have come in meaningfully below expectations, erosion in labor markets over the past few months cannot be ignored. Finally, China, the engine of regional growth is failing to make a solid recovery. Data released today indicates that China trade performance remains weak in November as exports sunk by -6.8% and imports contracted -8.7%. The lack of encouraging signals from China suggests the regional recovery aspirations look frail. Currently the NZD OIS markets is pricing in a 60% chance of a cut. However, IMM data indicated the NZD has been heavily accumulating, suggesting that the FX market is over-positioned for a dovish outcome. The RBNZ have indicated that the threshold for additional easing is high, should the verbiage sound less-dovish (a la Draghi) or indicate that after this cut an extended pause, we could see a decent NZD recovery rally.

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