NZ dollar weakens as business sentiment continues to slide, Fonterra payout cut
May 28 (BusinessDesk) - The New Zealand dollar weakened after a survey showed business confidence fell for a third
month, while Fonterra Cooperative Group confirmed expectations by cutting its milk payout forecasts for this season and
the next.
The kiwi was trading at 85.36 US cents at 5pm in Wellington, from 85.38 cents at the start of the day and down from
85.59 cents late yesterday. The trade-weighted index slipped to 79.70 from 79.87 yesterday.
New Zealand business confidence extended its slide from a record high to a third month, in the face of rising interest
rates, declining dairy prices and a persistently high kiwi dollar. A net 53.5 percent of firms are optimistic about
general business conditions this month, according to the ANZ Business Outlook survey, down from a 20-year high of 70.8
percent in February. Early in the day, Fonterra gave a preliminary forecast payout for the 2015 season of $7 a kilogram
of milk solids, after trimming this season's forecast payout to $8.40 per kgMS.
"It's that shift in expectations that markets are reacting to," said Robert Rennie, chief currency strategist at Westpac
Banking Corp. "Business sentiment dipping for a third straight month and earlier on, the Fonterra payout, while high
this year, clearly next season we're being given a very clear warning the payout is set to drop. The kiwi has
under-performed on the basis of those two releases."
With the next Reserve Bank monetary policy statement scheduled for June 12, there is heightened interest in New Zealand
economic indicators, as traders mull the likely track for increases in the official cash rate, Rennie said.
The New Zealand dollar fell to 92.14 Australian cents, from 92.41 Australian cents at the start of the day and from
92.39 cents yesterday. The kiwi fell to 87 yen from 87.28 yen yesterday, and was little changed at 62.62 euro cents. The
kiwi traded at 50.76 British pence from 50.77 pence yesterday.
(BusinessDesk)