HiFX Morning Update, October 17, 2017

HiFX Morning Update, October 17, 2017

The NZDUSD opens at 0.7169 (mid-rate) this morning.

The NZD has edged higher against the majority of its trading partners with this morning’s Q3 inflation report set to signal direction from here.

This morning’s Q3 Consumer Price Index (CPI) is expected to increase by 0.4% q/q following on from Q2 when CPI remained flat after increasing by 1% in Q1. The forecast increase is expected to be driven by rising fuel and food prices.

Overnight the Empire State Manufacturing index unexpectedly surged to 30.2 in October following September’s 24.4 reading. Economists had forecast the index to pull back 20.7. A positive reading indicates growth in regional manufacturing activity.

Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy last night extended the deadline for Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont to clarify whether or not Catalonia plans to break away from Spain. The original deadline of Monday 08:00 GMT has been pushed out three days.

Global equity markets remain mixed - Dow +0.24%, S&P 500 +0.03%, FTSE -0.11%, DAX +0.09%, CAC +0.21%, Nikkei +0.47, Shanghai -0.36%.

Gold prices are little changed, down 0.2% trading at $1,301 an ounce. WTI Crude Oil prices have pushed higher, up 0.9% overnight currently sitting at $51.89 a barrel.

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