New Zealand bonds close flat ahead of GDT price auction, Q2 employment report

The New Zealand bonds ended flat Monday as investors wait to watch the country’s GlobalDairyTrade price auction, scheduled to be held on August 1. Also, the second-quarter employment report, due on the same day at 22:45GMT will provide further direction to the labor market.

At the time of closing, the yield on the benchmark 10-year bond, which moves inversely to its price, hovered around 3.00 percent, the yield on 7-year note flat at 2.84 percent while the yield on short-term 2-year note ended 1 basis point lower at 2.12 percent.

Prices in the latest GDT auction, the 14th sale of calendar 2017, rose 0.2 percent following a 0.4 percent decline at the previous sale with volatility sharply reduced over the past four auctions. There was further uncertainty surrounding Chinese participation at the latest auction and overall Chinese demand will continue to be an important market focus during the remainder of 2017.

New Zealand’s seasonally adjusted number of dwelling consents fell 1.0 percent m/m in June, following a 6.9 percent m/m rebound in May. It continues to struggle to push much above the levels experienced over the past year or so. Capacity and funding constraints are capping the upside and we don’t see that changing any time soon. Issuance in Auckland remains on a flat trend despite strong population pressures.

Meanwhile, the New Zealand’s benchmark S&P/NZX 50 Index jumped 0.71 percent to  7,693.99 while at 05:00GMT, the FxWirePro's Hourly NZD Strength Index remained slightly bullish at 76.65 (a reading above +75 indicates a bullish trend, while that below -75 a bearish trend). For more details, visit http://www.fxwirepro.com/currencyindex

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