New Zealand’s Reserve Bank, the independent body which sets the benchmark interest rate, has appointed Conor English, the younger brother of Finance Minister Bill English, as one of its part-time external monetary policy advisers. Conor English, chairman of Agribusiness New Zealand and the former chief executive of Federated Farmers, will take up the role starting from the bank’s June monetary …
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NZ dollar jumps more than 1 US cent after RBNZ said rates could go ‘up or down’
The New Zealand dollar jumped more than 1 US cent after Reserve Bank governor Graeme Wheeler kept interest rates on hold and reiterated that future moves in rates could be “up or down”, surprising traders who expected him to drop a reference to rates potentially moving higher. The kiwi rose as high as 73.05 US cents, from 71.84 cents before …
Read More »Cheap oil to boost NZ national income by $2.4 bln a year, RBNZ says
New Zealand’s national income is expected to get an annual boost of about $2.4 billion as the fight between new energy producers and the Organisation for Petroleum Exporting Countries for market share keep global oil prices low, according to the Reserve Bank. Last year’s 50 percent slump in the price of Dubai crude oil to about US$55 a barrel has …
Read More »Tepid inflation surprise raises spectre of lower interest rates
Any further downward surprises in New Zealand’s already tepid pace of consumer inflation may warrant an interest rate cut, the Reserve Bank says. Governor Graeme Wheeler left the official cash rate unchanged at 3.5 percent, while stripping out any projected hikes from the bank’s forecast horizon as a slump in global oil prices keeps a lid on wage and price …
Read More »RBNZ’s Wheeler keeps OCR on hold, no rate hikes ahead
The Reserve Bank has removed the prospect of future interest rate hikes from its forecast horizon as a strong kiwi dollar and cheap oil hold down inflation, and the central bank ponders whether to lower its assessment of where “neutral” interest rates should be. The kiwi dollar gained after the statement. Governor Graeme Wheeler kept the official cash rate at 3.5 percent, …
Read More »NZ dollar drops to 5-week low ahead of RBNZ as greenback surges
The New Zealand dollar dropped to a five-week low ahead of the Reserve Bank decision on interest rates today as the greenback surged to a 12-year high. The kiwi touched 71.87 US cents, close to its February low of 71.74 cents, and was trading at 71.97 cents at 8am in Wellington, from 72.39 cents at 5pm yesterday. The trade-weighted index …
Read More »NZ dollar falls as RBNZ looms; dairy fall-out continues
By Paul McBeth March 11 (BusinessDesk) – The New Zealand dollar fell on speculation Reserve Bank governor Graeme Wheeler may signal further delays to interest rate hikes tomorrow and amid concern a threat to contaminate infant formula may hurt orders for the nation’s dairy products. The kiwi dropped to 72.37 US cents at 5pm in Wellington from 72.62 cents at 8am …
Read More »Banks relieved as RBNZ drops ‘5-plus’ test for home loans
The major banks are breathing a sigh of relief that the Reserve Bank of New Zealand has dropped proposals that would have deemed anyone owning five or more residential properties as a commercial borrower, although the Property Institute is unhappy with the latest proposals, published yesterday for consultation. The central bank intends to require banks to set aside more capital against lending on …
Read More »Greenback slips to third in NZ’s expanded TWI, yuan at second
The US dollar’s weighting has slipped in the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s new trade-weighted index, which adds the Chinese yuan to a line-up of 17 currencies skewed to Asia and intended to more accurately reflect New Zealand’s modern trade profile. The expanded TWI represents the biggest overhaul of the currency basket since it was introduced in the 1970s as …
Read More »Canterbury Uni vice-chancellor Rod Carr appointed as Reserve Bank chairman
University of Canterbury vice-chancellor and former Reserve Bank deputy governor Rod Carr has been appointed chairman of the central bank by Finance Minister Bill English. Carr will replace Arthur Grimes, who spent 11 years as the Reserve Bank’s chair, from Sept. 18, the central bank said in a statement. Sue Sheldon has been reappointed deputy chair. Reserve Bank directors appointed …
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