Here are the key things you need to know before you leave work today (or if you already work from home, before you shutdown your laptop).
MORTGAGE/LOAN RATE CHANGES
No changes to report. All rates are here.
TERM DEPOSIT/SAVINGS RATE CHANGES
No changes today here either, so far. All rates less than 1 year are here, for 1-5 years, they are here. However, please note that Xceda Finance (B+) has added a 90 day Notice Saver account paying 6.00%.
FREEZING OVER
Another day another dismal set of economic data. Activity in the service sector dropped sharply again in June to once again be at the lowest level in 17 years apart from during the pandemic lockdowns. They were weak in every region and across all components.
MORE THAN 'A LITTLE CHILLY'
Housing market sales crashed to GFC levels in June, crashing to GFC levels in June. The REINZ describes the market as 'a little chilly', but that is just a euphemism. For the first time, the REINZ folded in listing data from realestate.co.nz showing a very sharp rise in the number of houses buyers want to sell.
SPENDING DECLINING FASTER
Latest card spending data from the country's biggest bank shows that annual nominal growth has fallen below +1%, suggesting sales volumes are still falling
JUNE TRAFFIC AT AUCKLAND AIRPORT STABLE
Auckland International Airport had 1.36 million passenger movements in June, up 1% from a year earlier. There were 745,000 international passenger movements which was +6% higher than June 2023. NZ passport holders accounted for 55% of all international passengers. Domestic passenger movements however fell by -4% to 615,000. The airport said the domestic weakness came from the Auckland to Wellington route, fewer peak days and more off-peak days than this time a year ago.
TRACTOR SALES DRY UP
In June 2000, 114 tractors were sold in the month. 24 years later, the tractor sales total was only 115 for the month. The average for the prior ten years for a June was 192, so June 2024 is -40% lower. Tractor sales are a good de facto indicator of farmer confidence. It is terrible, by this measure. June 2024 is the lowest since February 2001 of any month (apart from the April 2020 lockdown month).
CASHING UP EARLY
The RBNZ said it will buy back the April 2025 NZGB on behalf of the NZDMO. The reasons to do this when NZDMO sales of NZGBs are rising are more to do with maintaining an 'efficient' market for these pristine securities. But it will mean the released funds will need to be reinvested, and much of it should flow to other NZGB issues. The RBNZ already owns NZ$5.9 bln or the $15.1 bln on issue.
LOWER THAN EXPECTED
Despite expectations that CCP discipline would press China's Q2 GDP result to the party's target, in fact they published a much lower than expected growth result. The Chinese economy expanded +4.7% in Q2 from the same period in Q3, missing market forecasts of +5.1% and slowing from a +5.3% growth in Q1. It was the weakest yearly advance since Q1-2023, and comes amid their persistent property downturn, weak domestic demand, a falling yuan, and trade frictions with the West. Irt also comes on the opening days of the CCP "Third Plenum", a huge set piece of Chinese policy making. Real reform is not anticipated however.
FALLING FASTER
Underscoring the real estate industry problems, China said new dwelling sales were -25% lower in June than a year ago. New house prices in 70 cities declined by -4.5% year-on-year in June, after a -3.9% equivalent fall in the previous month. It was the 12th straight month of retreat and the fastest pace since June 2015. Only one of those 70 cities recorded a year-on-year rise. None recorded rises for secondhand home sales. Some cities are now recording -12% sales price falls.
'REAL' GROWTH ALTHOUGH MINOR
China also said June retail sales were up +2.0% from the same month a year ago, up +3.0% in you exclude car sales. At least this is better than inflation, so it records 'real' gains.
VERY MODEST ELECTRICITY RISE
And China reported that electricity production rose +2.3% in June from year-ago levels. It is crude, but this may be a better indicator of 'growth' than the official GDP data. Still, they claim industrial production rose +5.3% in June on the same basis. It seems unlikely unless they are making impressively large energy efficiency gains nationwide. (Maybe readers know how to reconcile these various data claims better than us? Please clarify for all in the comment section below.)
SWAP RATES SETTLE
Wholesale swap rates are likely to be just marginally softer today with downside risk. Our chart below will record the final positions. The 90 day bank bill rate was little-changed at 5.56%. The Australian 10 year bond yield is up +3 bps from this morning at 4.37%. The China 10 year bond rate is little-changed at 2.26%. The NZ Government 10 year bond rate is down another -4 bps at 4.51% and the earlier RBNZ fix was at 4.49% and down another -2 bps from Friday. The UST 10yr yield is unchanged at 4.24%. Their 2yr is still at 4.46%, so the curve is now much less inverted, by -22 bps.
EQUITIES CALM
After last week's exuberant rise, the NZX50 is essentially unchanged near its Monday close. The ASX200 is up +0.8% in afternoon trade. Tokyo is down -2.4% however and Hong Kong is down -1.0% at their respective opens. Shanghai is essentially unchanged. Singapore is basically unchanged as well. Wall Street looks like it will open tonight up +1.3% if futures trading is to be the guide. Equity markets seem to be ignoring rising US political instability.
OIL HOLDS
The oil price is essentially unchanged at US$81.50/bbl in the US, and at still just on US$84.50/bbl for the international Brent price.
GOLD ALSO ON HOLD
In early Asian trade, gold is virtually unchanged from this morning's open at US$2410/oz.
NZD EASES
The Kiwi dollar is down -20 bps from this morning, now at 61 USc. Against the Aussie we are down -20 bps at 90 AUc. Against the euro we are down another -10 bps at 56 euro cents. This all means the TWI-5 is now just on 69.7 and down -20 bps.
BITCOIN RISES STRONGLY
The bitcoin price is up +3.9 from this time morning at US$62,388. Volatility of the past 24 hours has been moderate at just under +/- 2.7%.
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