May 13, 2015 20:50 pm UTC| Commentary
Westpac Research Notes:AUD/USD 1 day: As long as the US dollars weakness persists AUD/USD will continue to rise. Momentum is positive and strong and targets the 0.8200 area next.AUD/USD 1-3 month: Eventual resumption of...
May 13, 2015 20:47 pm UTC| Commentary
Westpac Research Notes:AU swap yields 1 day: The 2yr should open around 2.22% while the 10yr should open around 3.32%.AU swap yields 1-3 month: Momentum remains positive, with the 2yr having broken 2.20% and targeting...
May 13, 2015 20:47 pm UTC| Commentary
Westpac Research Notes:NZ swap yields 1 day: Given the movements in interest rates in key markets overnight, the NZ 2yr should open down 1bp at 3.41% while the 10yr should open up 1bp at 4.01%.NZ swap yields 1-3 month:...
US consumption weakness extends into Q2
May 13, 2015 20:20 pm UTC| Commentary
US retail sales for April were weak. Control retail sales (excluding gasoline, autos, building materials and food) were flat and sales excluding autos and gasoline were up only 0.2% m/m.Headline retail sales were also...
Strong performance of UK labour market continued into March
May 13, 2015 18:46 pm UTC| Commentary
UK employment rate is up to a new record high. Granted, a strong expansion in the workforce meant that unemployment fell by just 35,000 - the smallest fall since August 2013. But this was still sufficient to bring the ILO...
Iceland’s central bank to raise rates at June meeting, further hikes to follow
May 13, 2015 18:33 pm UTC| Commentary
Although Icelands central bank left its main interest rates on hold on Wednesday, it adopted a much more hawkish tone, signalling that it was likely to start hiking rates as early as next month.Strong domestic demand and...
Euro-zone economy grew more rapidly than the US and UK in Q1
May 13, 2015 18:19 pm UTC| Commentary
Q1s euro-zone GDP data confirmed that the currency union expanded by 0.4%, stronger than the performances of the US and UK economies but slightly below consensus.Although France grew by a solid 0.6% - its biggest quarterly...
South Africa’s plan to move away from coal: 8 steps to make it succeed
Germany lowers voting age to 16 for the European elections
IceCube researchers detect a rare type of energetic neutrino sent from powerful astronomical objects