We had data from New Zealand today for Q2 business confidence, which cascaded lower again. The New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER) Quarterly Survey of Business Opinion has shown net pessimism for business confidence since Q3 of 2021 and that continued. NZD/USD lost a little more ground on the session after larger losses on Monday with the rising US dollar.

AUD/USD dribbled lower also. Reserve Bank of Australia minutes pointed to the importance of official Q2 inflation data, due on July 31, for the next policy meeting on August 5 and 6. A rate hike is not out of the question, but we await the data.

From South Korea we had the June CPI report, with y/y inflation in the month at its lowest since July last year.

As the headline to this wrap notes, Powell is speaking Tuesday, at the ECB forum. He is due at 1330 GMT / 0930 US Eastern time.

Oil prices remained firm:

brent oil wrap 02 July 2024 2