RBNZ’s first stress test suggests life insurers can overcome severe economic, geopolitical shocks

Anil Panchal FXStreet

Early Tuesday in Asia, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) unveils the results of its first stress test for the life insurance industry while suggesting that the major players are well-placed to overcome the severe economic and insurance shocks, while continuing to pay out on policy claims, reported Reuters.

Following the official announcement, RBNZ Deputy Governor Christian Hawkesby said that the participating insurers were able to pay out substantial claims from policyholders and remain solvent during a hypothetical three-year scenario comprising a long COVID, a new pandemic and a period of severe economic stress.

NZD/USD stays unimpressive

Despite the price-positive news and the US Dollar’s failure to defend the week-start gains, the NZD/USD remains sluggish near 0.6100 by the press time as it challenges the two-day rebound amid Tuesday’s early Asian session. The reason could be linked to the market’s cautious mood ahead of China's trade balance.

Author

Anil Panchal

FXStreet

Anil Panchal has nearly 15 years of experience in tracking financial markets. With a keen interest in macroeconomics, Anil aptly tracks global news/updates and stays well-informed about the global financial moves and their implications.

GBP/USD slides below 1.3250 after failing to break through 23.6% Fibo

The GBP/USD pair meets with a fresh supply during the Asian session on Wednesday and moves away from a nearly two-week high around the 1.3275 region, touched the previous day. Spot prices currently trade around the 1.3235 zone, down 0.20% for the day, as traders look to speeches from Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey and Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh for a fresh impetus.

EUR/USD nudges higher above 1.1350 on softer Fed stance, traders await US jobs data

The EUR/USD pair posts modest gains near 1.1380 during the early Asian session on Thursday. The US Dollar edges lower against the Euro on less hawkish remarks from Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh. Traders will closely monitor the US jobs data for June later on Thursday.

Gold hovers near $4,050 as bullish USD caps gains ahead of US NFP

Gold steadies following the previous day's volatile two-way price swings and trades just below $4,050 during the Asian session on Thursday as traders now look to the crucial US NFP report for fresh impetus. In the meantime, Wednesday's US economic data kept Fed rate-hike expectations elevated and continues to act as a tailwind for the US Dollar. Furthermore, the uncertainty over US-Iran talks underpins the safe-haven buck, which, in turn, should cap the bullion.

Morpho surges as Standard Chartered projects $60 price by 2030

Standard Chartered has initiated coverage of decentralized finance lending protocol Morpho, forecasting its native token could reach $60 by the end of 2030 as the sector expands and institutional adoption of onchain finance accelerates.

Warsh stays on message as inflation remains the Fed's top priority

At the ECB Forum in Sintra, Fed Chair Kevin Warsh largely followed the script, offering little to change the market’s current view on monetary policy.

Just like Fed, is BoJ’s independence under threat?

When talking about central bank independence, most of the focus has been on Donald Trump’s pressure on the Federal Reserve. But a similar story, a quieter one for now, seems to be happening on the other side of the Pacific: Japan’s government may be testing the Bank of Japan’s independence.