Markets Outlook

In Confidence

BNZ Research -

We are starting to feel that the trend increase in both business and consumer confidence is slowing. We look towards this week’s suite of indicators for evidence of this. Meanwhile, Wednesday’s Budget Policy Statement should highlight the deterioration in the nation’s fiscal accounts and, hopefully, provide insight into the government’s plans.

On the improve

Stephen Toplis -

Activity in New Zealand’s manufacturing sector continued to show improvement in February, but still remained in contraction, according to the latest BNZ – BusinessNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI).

The seasonally adjusted PMI for February was 49.3 (a PMI reading above 50.0 indicates that manufacturing is generally expanding; below 50.0 that it is declining). This was up from 47.5 in January and the highest level of activity since February 2023. However, the sector has now been in contraction for 12 consecutive months.

BusinessNZ’s Director, Advocacy Catherine Beard said that the improved February result showed signs of a gradual turnaround in the sector.

“The key sub-index of Production (49.1) was at its highest level since January 2023, while Deliveries (51.4) was at its highest point since March 2023. However, New Orders (47.8) has now remained in contraction for nine consecutive months and likely needs to get much closer to the 50-point mark to edge the sector back into expansion".

The proportion of negative comments in February stood at 62%, which was down from 63.2% in January but up from 61% in December. A lack of orders (both domestic and offshore) was mentioned by many respondents, as well as the general slowdown in the economy.

BNZ’s Head of Research Stephen Toplis said that “New Zealand’s manufacturing sector is still in recession, but this month’s PMI indicates there is light at the end of the tunnel. The 49.3 reading is within a smidgen of “breakeven” and the new orders to inventory differential provides support for an increase in production. Moreover, New Zealand’s underperformance against the rest of the world is narrowing quickly”.

GDP going nowhere fast

BNZ Research -

We’ve settled on 0.1% for our Q4 GDP pick. But the data are very noisy at the moment so there is a huge margin of error around this projection. Whatever the exact number the conclusion will be the same, New Zealand economic growth has stalled and on a per capita basis it is going backwards at a rapid rate of knots.

Monitoring Growth, Or Lack Thereof

BNZ Research -

There is no top-tier data this week, but a collection of the remaining key indicators for Q4 GDP are worth watching. We are looking for them, collectively, to suggest that economic growth struggled in Q4. This morning’s data saw a substantial drop in the terms of trade – reflecting a material drop in the country’s purchasing power. A very large drop in import volumes suggests demand has slumped. But there was plenty else to ponder in today’s extremely volatile set of trade figures for Q4.

RBNZ To Aggressively Maintain Tight Conditions

BNZ Research -

RBNZ takes centre stage. It seems to us there is no need for the RBNZ to raise rates further. Monetary conditions are tight and doing the work. Whether the Reserve Bank sees things as we do is moot. Its rhetoric has certainly been extremely hawkish of late. We acknowledge there is still more of a chance the RBNZ lifts its cash rate on Wednesday than it lowers it. We expect the Bank to aggressively justify holding interest rates at current levels for an extended period.

RBNZ February MPS Preview

BNZ Research -

There’s more chance the RBNZ hikes than cuts when it delivers its February 28 Monetary Policy Statement. But we think a hike would be a policy error given the extent by which the labour market is easing, spare capacity is growing and inflation, both headline and core, is falling. So we are forecasting no change in the cash rate at the forthcoming meeting. Nonetheless, we also expect the RBNZ to be aggressive in its support for holding the cash rate at its currently contractionary level well into 2025.

Rate Hikes Ahead?

BNZ Research -

The fear that the Reserve Bank of New Zealand might resume its tightening cycle has well and truly taken hold. It wasn’t that long ago when financial markets were trying to price in a very near term easing by the Bank. Indeed, it was only a matter of days ago that four rate cuts were priced before the end of this calendar year. Now the market prices a full rate hike by May this year. We discuss this and look forward to a lot of data this week.

Labour Market Pressures Changing Rapidly

BNZ Research -

This week’s data comes in a rush on Wednesday with a suite of Q4 labour market information. We expect the main message to be that previous tightness in the labour market is abating. We think strong labour supply has enabled employment but also exceeded additional labour demand such that we will see both employment and unemployment rise. Annual wage inflation is expected to cool further. On balance, we don’t think outcomes on our expectations would alter the RBNZ’s broad view of the world.

All Ears

BNZ Research -

Tomorrow’s speech by RBNZ Chief Economist Paul Conway will grab attention tomorrow morning, with brief comments on domestic data developments signalled. We will be all ears for what the RBNZ makes of a generally softer run of data. Today’s data shows some job growth occurring, but we don’t think it will be enough to prevent a lift in the unemployment rate given very strong labour supply. Exports and imports are much lower than a year ago, reflective of prior declines in commodity prices and subdued domestic demand. Business and consumer confidence surveys this week will provide a New Year pulse check, including respondents’ views on pricing and inflation.

Inflation To Fall

BNZ Research -

Tomorrow’s Q4 CPI takes centre stage this week. Our forecast remains at 0.5% q/q and 4.7% y/y, which is where the market consensus has gravitated too. This view is lower than the RBNZ’s respective 0.8% and 5.0% forecasts included in its November MPS. But even if headline inflation were to print under the central bank’s forecasts, it need not necessarily invoke a material dovish tilt. The CPI details will matter. The Bank has recently focused on non-tradeables inflation which we think will print a touch above RBNZ projections. Meanwhile, this morning’s PSI data for December is the latest indicator to suggest growth struggles remain.

A tough start to 2024

BNZ Research -

We are cautiously optimistic that the economy will be finding its feet by the end of 2024. In the interim, however, it’s going to be a hard slog for the next few months. In the week ahead, the PMI and PSI will give us a good handle on where we are now while the Quarterly Survey of Business Opinion, released tomorrow, will shed better light on where we are headed.