New Zealand bonds close nearly flat ahead of GlobalDairyTrade price auction, Q4 retail sales

New Zealand 10-year government bonds closed narrowly mixed Monday as investors wait to watch the country’s GlobalDairyTrade price auction, scheduled to be held on February 20 and the retail sales for the fourth quarter of 2017, due on February 22 by 21:45GMT.

At the time of closing, the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note, which moves inversely to its price, slipped 1/2 basis point to 2.99 percent, the yield on 20-year hovered around 3.50 percent and the yield on short-term 2-year closed steady at 1.88 percent.

With the long Chinese New Year holiday weekend, and many Asian markets including China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan still closed and the US also out for holiday, the week may be off to a slow post-holiday start, albeit with a likely positive tone.

Wall Street closed little changed on Friday amid new indictments against Russian interference in the 2016 presidential elections, whilst the UST bond market (with the 10-year yield back below 2.9 percent) and USD ended firmer.

Meanwhile, the NZX 50 index closed 0.12 percent lower at 8,115.25, while at 06:00GMT, the FxWirePro's Hourly NZD Strength Index remained slightly bullish at 94.90 (a reading above +75 indicates a bullish trend, while that below -75 a bearish trend). For more details, visit http://www.fxwirepro.com/currencyindex

FxWirePro launches Absolute Return Managed Program. For more details, visit http://www.fxwirepro.com/invest