New Zealand (NZ) Finance Minister Grant Robertson is out on the wires, now, via Reuters, presenting the NZ annual Budget, with the key takeaways found below.
NZ$50 billion COVID-19 response and recovery fund.
Deficit seen reducing to 1.4% of GDP by 2024.
Projects net debt will surge to 53.6% of GDP by 2023.
Sees 2020 operating surplus before gains, losses NZ$-28.293 bln (HYEFU NZ$-0.943 bln).
Sees 2020/21 Obegal surplus/deficit NZ$-29.599 bln (HYEFU NZ$+0.057 bln).
Sees 2021/22 Obegal surplus/deficit NZ$-27.199 bln (HYEFU NZ$+1.752 bln).
Sees 2020 net debt 30.2 pct of GDP (HYEFU 19.6 pct).
2020 cash balance NZ$-32.031 bln (HYEFU NZ$5.154 bln).
2020/21 cash balance NZ$-43.313 billion (HYEFU NZ$7.973 bln).
Sees 2020 GDP -4.6 pct (HYEF +2.3 pct).
Sees 2022/23 Obegal surplus/deficit NZ$-16.454 bln(HYEFU NZ$4.061 bln).
NZ$4bln business support package; including targeted NZ$3.2 bln wage subsidy extension.
Obegal deficits will average, 9.3% of GDP, or NZ$28 bln, from 2020 to 2022.
NZD/USD reaction
NZD/USD was offered just above the 0.60 level and now extends losses towards 0.5950, as it tracked the sharp drop in its OZ peer, AUD. The aussie fell on disappointing Australian jobs data.
At the time of writing, the kiwi drops 21% to 0.5972, having hit a daily low of 0.5968.
Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.
If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.
FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.
The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.
Recommended content
Editors’ Picks
AUD/USD extends gains above 0.6700 amid subdued US Dollar

AUD/USD is trading firmer above 0.6700, having rallied to the highest in nearly two weeks on Wednesday after the Fed hiked rates by another 25bps, as expected. The dovish guidance by the Fed smashed the US Dollar alongside the Treasury bond yields.
EUR/USD re-attempts 1.0900 on dovish Fed-induced USD weakness

EUR/USD is trading near 1.0900, extending gains early Thursday. The pair stays firmer amid a broadily depressed US Dollar. Investors are assessing the latest dovish outlook from the Fed ahead of the SNB and BoE policy outcomes, which could trigger fresh volatility surge across the FX board.
Gold set to retake $2,000 on dovish Federal Reserve outlook Premium

Gold is gathering pace for the next push higher as US Dollar stays offered. US Treasury bond yields got smashed on dovish US Federal Reserve policy guidance. XAU/USD price is forming a bull pennant on the daily chart, with a bullish RSI.
Binance market share could drop after abolishing most zero-fee trading, boosts TrueUSD stablecoin

Binance phased out almost all zero-fee buying and selling Bitcoin (BTC) along with multiple trading pairs from its platform after nine months on Wednesday. An exemption was allowed for the TrueUSD/Bitcoin (TUSD/BTC) pair. This built atop a March 10 move to quietly wind down BUSD auto-conversion.
Bank of England and Swiss National Bank both set to hike

The Bank of England and Swiss National Bank both make monetary policy announcements tomorrow, March 23. Our base case is for the Bank of England to raise its policy rate 25 basis points to 4.25% this week, and then pause tightening. However, an unexpected quickening of inflation has added some uncertainty to that outlook.