TALKING POINTS – AUSTRALIAN & NZ DOLLARS, CHINA STOCKS, FED-SPEAK
- Australian, NZ Dollars drop, echoing Chinese stocks plunge
- US Dollar[1] looking to Fed officials’ comments for a lifeline
- Pound and Euro[2] may ignore UK claims, German ZEW data
The Australian and New Zealand Dollars underperformed in Asia Pacific trade, following Chinese stocks downward. The benchmark CSI 300 index of shares listed in Shanghai and Shenzhen fell for a fourth consecutive day, touching the lowest level in two months.
The recent selloff appears to reflect worries about monetary tightening. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has injected nearly US$1.7 billion over the past five days to arrest selling in the local currency, a form of monetary tightening. Meanwhile on the mainland, the one-year prime loan rate has advanced to the highest level since October 2015.
China is the top source of export demand for Australia and New Zealand. A rapid rise in borrowing costs there may translate into negative knock-on effects for growth in the two countries, bearing down on inflation and undercutting scope for the RBA and the RBNZ to pursue higher interest rates of their own.
UK Jobless Claims data headlines the European economic calendar. A pickup in wage inflation may offer a bit of lift to the British Pound[3] but traders are likely to wait for CPI figures later in the week[4] before showing lasting directional commitment. Germany’s ZEW survey of investor confidence is likely to pass without leaving much an impression on the Euro.
Later in the day, comments from Fed officials will enter
