NZD Overview: Are The Bulls Finally In Charge?

 | Oct 06, 2015 03:12AM ET

Last week was relatively positive for the Kiwi dollar as a range of US economic data proved weaker than expected. The US NFP was highly negative, coming in at 142k (202k exp) whilst Average Hourly Earnings also fell to 0.0% m/m. The NZD subsequently rose higher and managed to finish the week around the 0.6450 level. However, the week ahead will prove critical for the venerable currency as it prepares to be largely dominated by the US unemployment rate and Non-Manufacturing PMI results.

The next few days will see the kiwi dollar focused upon the US labour market as the Unemployment Claims figures fall due. The market will be closely watching the results from this indicator, for some sort of signal as to the US Federal Reserve’s intent in the coming FOMC meeting.

Any further demonstrated weakness within US labour markets could doom any rate hikes for 2015. The pressure is already mounting for the central bank to hold off on any monetary policy changes given the weaker than expected NFP data. So any weakness in the US Unemployment Claims figures could benefit the NZD and cause a sharp appreciation against its namesake. In fact, the NZD is currently climbing ahead of the labour market result, as the market looks to take a risk off approach.

However, there is also some important NZ macroeconomic data due this week that has the potential to be missed considering the volatility that is likely to be present around the US unemployment Claims data. A Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction result is due shortly and, given the importance of dairy to the New Zealand economy, should be watched closely.