Small JPY Firming Following Mixed Japanese Employment & CPI Data

Japan’s jobless rate rose to 5.0% in March, surprising expectations for it to remain at 4.9%.

Tokyo CPI for April was released simultaneously. Core Tokyo consumer prices (excluding both food and energy) declined by an annual 1.4%, above expectations for a 1.6% drop to follow the 1.2% decline in March. Meanwhile, core CPI (excluding fresh food) slipped by 1.9% year-over-year in April versus calls for a 2.1% decline after the 1.8% fall previously. Headline Tokyo consumer prices, on the other hand, declined by 1.5% on the year, surprising the consensus forecast for a 2.1% fall to follow the revised 1.8% drop in March.

However, national Japanese CPI for March was in line with the consensus forecast. Core national consumer prices (excluding both food and energy) weakened by 1.1% on the year, as expected, and mirroring their drop in February. Core prices (excluding fresh food) slipped by an annual 1.2%, as forecast, and following its identical drop in February. Finally, headline national CPI slipped by 1.1% on the year in March, as expected, and again mirroring its drop the month before.

While the rise in Japan’s jobless rate is yen-negative, the smaller-than-expected fall in Tokyo CPI is supportive for the currency. However, the two releases seemed to cancel each other out, with the yen strengthening only slightly – USD/JPY slipped by just 0.11 yen to 93.94, a new intraday low.

NZD/USD See-Saws Dramatically as RBNZ Holds Rates & Signals Rate Hikes in the “Coming Months”

As unanimously expected by economists, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand held its cash rate at 2.50%. The central bank said that although domestic households “remain cautious” and business spending continues to be “weak”, the central bank continues “to expect the New Zealand economy to recover in line with or slightly faster than our March statement projections”. The RBNZ added that they “expect to begin removing policy stimulus over the coming months”, contingent on the recovery progressing as expected. Following the announcement, NZD/USD spiked by around 0.25 U.S. cents to $0.7233USD, an early session high, before falling to $0.7176USD. The short-lived rally can be explained by the central banks’ comment that rate hikes are scheduled for the “coming months” and the statement that the recovery is recovering “in line or slightly faster” than predicted in March. However, the ensuing weakness in the currency was probably in reaction to the more negative aspects of the statement.

AUD/USD Rallies as Australian Consumer Prices Exceed Expectations in Q1

Consumer prices in Australia increased at a slightly faster pace than expected in Q1. They rose 0.9% on the quarter, above call for a 0.8% increase to follow the 0.5% gain in the final quarter of 2009. Meanwhile, annually, consumer prices rose by 2.9% versus expectations for a 2.8% increase after their 2.1% rise in Q4. Following the above-consensus data, which suggest that another rate hike from the Reserve Bank of Australia is now more likely, AUD/USD firmed by almost 0.2 U.S. cents to hit $0.9192USD, a new intraday high.

Small AUD/USD Spike as Australian PPI Rises Faster than Expected in Q1

Australian producer prices rose at a faster-than-expected quarterly pace in Q1. PPI increased 1.0% on the quarter versus the consensus forecast for a 0.6% gain to follow the 0.4% decrease in Q4 of last year. Meanwhile, producer prices declined 0.1% on the year in Q1, above calls for a 0.6% drop after the 1.5% fall in the final quarter of 2009. Following the upside surprise in the data, AUD/USD firmed by almost 0.2 U.S. cents to touch $0.9286USD, just one pip south of the pair’s intraday high, before declining. The PPI report suggests that Australian consumer prices, released next week, may have risen by more than economists had expected. If so, the RBA will come under pressure to continue to increase interest rates to counter inflation.

JPY Weakens Slightly vs. USD as Japanese Corporate Service Price Index Falls by Less than Expected in March

Japan’s corporate service price index declined by slightly less than expected in March. The indicator fell by an annual 1.1% compared to the consensus call for a 1.4% drop to follow the revised 1.2% decline in February. Following the release, the yen weakened slightly versus the greenback. USD/JPY climbed by 0.18 yen to reach 94.18 before declining. However, the pair remained below its intraday high of 94.19 before declining.

NZD/USD Plummets as Kiwi Retail Sales Post Surprise Decline in Feb.

New Zealand retail sales unexpectedly weakened in February. Sales slipped back by 0.6% on the month in February, a move that was worse than the consensus forecast for a 0.2% rise to follow the revised 0.7% gain in January. Meanwhile, core sales (excluding autos) slipped by 0.9% in February, disappointing calls for a 0.4% rise to exceed the 0.3% gain previously. Following the downbeat data, NZD/USD sold off by 53 pips to hit $0.7086USD in a move that more than wiped out the minor 15 pip gain the pair managed on Tuesday. NZD/USD is now at its worst level since last Friday, when the pair touched $0.7162USD before it was strengthened by rumours of the Greek loans injecting risk appetite into markets. Support lies down at $0.7008USD from April 8.

Minor AUD/USD Rise as Aussie NAB Business Conditions Index Improves but Confidence Weakens

The Australian NAB business conditions index rose to a 13 level in March from an 8 print the month before. However, the business confidence component slipped back to a 16 read from 19 in February. The Australian dollar’s reaction to the mixed data has been understandably restrained as the currency has been torn between one component’s improvement and the other’s deterioration. AUD/USD has therefore only firmed by a tentative dozen pips to reach $0.9258USD versus a session high of $0.9276USD.