NZD/JPY selloff amplified after Fed cut interest rates to zero and launched QE
New Zealand Dollar may continue to suffer vs Japanese Yen on Covid-19 panic
RESERVE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND CUT INTEREST RATES
The
cycle-sensitive New Zealand Dollar plunged against its G10 counterparts
but with particular ferocity vs the anti-risk Japanese Yen. This came
after the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) delivered an emergency 75
basis point rate cut over the weekend amid the coronavirus pandemic.
This caught markets off-guard who were previously believed the central
bank would take a more wait-and-see approach to policy.
These
stimulus measures brought the Overnight Cash Rate (OCR) to an all-time
low at 0.25 percent in an effort mitigate the economic disruption of
Covid-19. New Zealand’s economy is particularly susceptible to global
disruptions due to its export-oriented growth model. This vulnerability
is amplified by the fact that China – the epicenter of the coronavirus
outbreak – is also a leading source of New Zealand’s external demand.
FEDERAL RESERVE CUTS RATES TO ZERO, IMPLEMENTS QE
As outlined in my prior piece, Federal Reserve announced on Sunday that it cut the benchmark Fed Funds interest rate to 0.00-0.25 percent.
Additionally, monetary authorities announced a $700 billion
quantitative easing program (QE) as a way to calm interbank stress with
an objective of financial re-stabilization. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell
subsequently held an audio-only press conference to expand on the
decision.
In
the call, he warned that the coronavirus is having a profound impact on
people all over the world. The measures taken by schools and businesses
to mitigate the contagion are likely to negatively impact the US
economy in the near term and will hit vulnerable industries like tourism
and travel the hardest. Mr. Powell also noted that financial markets
have shown signs of stress and tightened credit conditions amid a
panic-induced selloff.
He
said the bond purchasing program will foster more accommodative
financial conditions alongside its coordinated effort to reduce the cost
of US Dollar
swap lines with major central banks. When questioned on negative
interest rates, the Chair said he does not see sub-zero interest rates
as an appropriate policy here in the US. He also noted that the FOMC will not hold its planned meeting this week on Wednesday.
Despite
the proverbial bazooka of easing Mr. Powell fired into the markets,
risk aversion gripped investors and amplified NZD/JPY’s losses. The pair
is currently trading at a four-year low as part of a broad selloff it
faced after it broke the October uptrend earlier this year (red parallel
channel). NZD/JPY is now hovering in a support range between 63.630 and
64.216 (gold-dotted lines).
NZD/JPY – Daily Chart
NZD/JPY chart created using TradingView
If
the lower tier is broken with follow-through, it could further pressure
the pair as it continues to trade below a five-year descending
resistance channel. The monthly chart shows NZD/JPY has attempted but
failed to clear the ceiling on several occasions and is now heading for a
range not reached since 2008. Selling pressure here may abate, but
given the fundamental circumstances, the path of least resistance leads
downward.
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