Jerome Powell Warns Against Politicizing the Federal Reserve, Defends Democratic Institutions 
Taiwan Central Bank Likely to Keep Interest Rates Unchanged Through 2027 
RBNZ Holds Interest Rates Steady but Signals More Hikes Ahead in 2026 
Goldman Sachs Sees U.S. Dollar Holding Firm as Strong Economic Data Supports Outlook 
BOJ Raises Interest Rates to 31-Year High, Signals Strong Focus on Inflation Risks 
Trump’s Iran Strategy: What Has Been Achieved After Three Months of Conflict? 
Indian Government Bonds Seen Opening Steady Ahead of RBI Policy Decision 
J.P. Morgan Sees Major Upside for Prysmian as Optical Fiber Prices Surge 
AI Memory Boom Sparks Global Chip Supply Crunch 
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) released its Monetary Policy Statement today, February 18, 2026, maintaining the Official Cash Rate (OCR) at 2.25%, as anticipated following prior cuts. The decision reflects a cautious stance amid a patchy economic recovery and inflation nearing the 2% midpoint target.
Policy Highlights
The Monetary Policy Committee voted to hold rates steady, emphasizing balanced inflation risks and spare capacity in the economy. Governor Anna Breman noted low tolerance for delays in achieving inflation goals, leaving flexibility for future adjustments.
Market Reaction
NZD saw modest gains post-announcement, supported by the in-line hold amid stabilizing forecasts. Analysts view this as a potential bottoming of the easing cycle, with focus on upcoming data like employment figures.
