The People’s Bank of China slashed the onshore reference rate by 200+ points today, taking CNY to its weakest since 30 November last year. The Bank also cut its 7-day reverse repo rate to 1.9%, down from the previous 2% level. Expectations are high for it to cut its Medium Term Lending Facility (MLF) rate on Thursday, the 15th. The one-year MLF is currently at 2.75%, with a cut to 2.65% widely expected. On Tuesday next week, the 20th, the PBOC set 1- and 5-year Loan Prime Rates (LPRs). A cut to the MLF will likely herald a cut to one, or both of these also.

The data focus for the session was on the National Australia Bank Business Survey which showed both business confidence and conditions slipping for the previous month. The details in the report were also not bright. Inflation pressures, for example, rose. In the wake of its report NAB bumped higher its expectation for the peak RBA cash rate, from 4.35% to 4.60. Analysts at the bank now expect an Reserve Bank of Australia rate hike in July and August, of +25bp each time.

Earlier in the session we had Westpac’s Australian consumer confidence report. The report’s Unemployment Expectations index rose to a 33-month high.

Major FX was mixed. USD/JPY is barely changed, a little lower, while EUR and GBP have inched a little higher. AUD, CAD and NZD have dribbled a little lower. The yuan lost ground, USD/CNH hitting highs above 1.1750.

Asian equity markets:

  • Japan’s Nikkei 225 +1.6%

  • China’s Shanghai Composite -0.1%

  • Hong Kong’s Hang Seng -0.3%

  • South Korea’s KOSPI +0.2%

  • Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 -0.1%

USD/CNH (offshore yuan):

usdcnh pboc policy rate cut wrap 13 June 2023