HiFX morning Update, February 5 2019

NZDUSD 0.6878 -0.2%
NZDEUR 0.6014 0.0%
NZDGBP 0.5271 0.1%
NZDJPY 75.55 0.1%
NZDAUD 0.9525 0.2%
NZDCAD 0.9035 0.1%
GBPNZD 1.8972 -0.1%

Markets have had a subdued start to the trading week with China’s financial markets closed all week for the Luna New Year holiday.

The USD has extended its gains following the Friday’s upbeat economic data releases and is the best performing of the G10 currencies. US Treasury rates have continued to push higher with the 2-year rate up a further 3bps and the 10-year rate up 4bps from Friday’s close.

Overnight Sentix data showed Euro-zone investor confidence weakened for a sixth straight month in February and now sits at its lowest level in more than four years. The investor confidence index fell to -3.7 from -1.5 in January, surprising economists who had forecast the index to improve to -1.3.

UK construction growth in January slipped to its weakest level in ten months with Markit reporting its Purchasing Managers' Index fell to 50.6 from 52.8 in December. Market expectations were for the index to edge down to 52.5.

The AUD remains under pressure ahead of today’s monetary policy rate announcement with investors anticipating a less upbeat tone to the accompanying statement. The Central bank are expected to site falling house prices in Sydney and Melbourne which according to the latest housing report are both down over 10% over the past year as a major area of concern.

Global equity markets have had a mixed start to the week, Dow +0.07%, S&P 500 +0.27%, FTSE +0.20%, DAX -0.04%, CAC -0.38%, Nikkei +0.46%, Shanghai Closed.

Gold prices have inched lower, down 0.3% trading at 1,313 an ounce. WTI Crude Oil prices have given back some of Friday’s gains, , currently down 1.8%% trading at $54.55 a barrel

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