No changes today. All current mortgage rates are here<\/a>. And note, you can compare mortgage offers with our new calculator that takes into account other costs and cashback incentives, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n
TERM DEPOSIT\/SAVINGS RATE CHANGES STABILISING AT 7% TRENDING UP STILL RISING TAKE A BREAK AND DO OUR QUIZ NZX50 RECOVERS SLIGHTLY UPGRADED FIRMLY PESSIMISTIC STEADY WITH HESITATION TACO AGAIN? ARE YOU A BANKING & FINANCE PROFESSIONAL? SWAP RATES FALL BACK SHARPLY EQUITIES RECOVER ABOUT HALF YESTERDAY’S FALL OIL FALLS BACK CARBON PRICE SOFTISH GOLD RISES NZD BACK IN FAVOUR BITCOIN RISES Select chart tabs<\/p>\n US$ Select chart tabs<\/p>\n 1 year % \n This soil moisture chart is animated here<\/a>.<\/p>\n
No changes here either. All updated term deposit rates less than 1 year are here<\/a>, for 1-5 years, they are here<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Updated MBIE data shows<\/a> that the number of overseas worker numbers is stablising at around 200,000, following a period of high volatility. Given there are 2.9 mln people employed, that is 7% of our employed workforce.<\/p>\n
ANZ’s “truckometer” tracking shows<\/a> that in February, the Light Traffic Index lifted +2.5% in February from January to be up +4.5% from a year ago, its strongest annual growth in three years. The Heavy Traffic Index rose +2.4% in the month, and is up a more modest +2.4% for the year with annual growth trending up.<\/p>\n
Mid-March commercial lease listings continue to rise, belying the ‘greenshoots’ messages. They are now at a record high 26,435, up +14% from this time last year (+3240). But they have turn below their record highs on Auckland’s North Shore, Tauranga, and Dunedin.<\/p>\n
Our quiz has been updated for this week’s edition. You can do it here<\/a>. And a new one will be added every Monday.<\/p>\n
As at 3pm, the overall NZX50 index<\/a> is up +0.4% so far today. That leaves it down -3.5% over the past five working days, and down -0.9% from six months ago. From a year ago it is now up +5.1%. Market heavyweight F&P Healthcare is up +0.4% so far today. Serko, Precinct Properties, Napier Port, and Summerset lead a NZX50 rebound, Oceania, Mainfreight, Fletcher, and Meridian are the main decliners.<\/p>\n
Fitch Ratings has upgraded ASB Bank’s Long-Term Foreign- and Local-Currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) to ‘AA-‘ from ‘A+’. The Outlook is Stable. This mirrors what it did with ASB’s parent Commonwealth Bank in Australia. This mirrors the S&P Ratings levels. But Fitch still has ANZ, BNZ and Westpac at A+, Kiwibank at AA (based on assumed taxpayer support).<\/p>\n
In Australia, the Westpac-MI consumer sentiment survey showed<\/a> consumers remain firmly pessimistic, although sentiment continues to show some resilience. Daily responses in their survey show a material weakening over the survey week. The results were less pessimism on current finances and attitudes towards major purchases. On the economy it reveals more unease near-term but less concern about the medium-term. Unemployment expectations pushed up above long-run average levels, led by the over-45s.<\/p>\n
Staying in Australia, the NAB business confidence survey<\/a> found that business conditions were steady in February, but sentiment slipped, with confidence now in negative territory for the first time in almost a year, likely reflecting some caution in the \u200bwake of the February RBA rate hike. This survey didn’t really pick up the more recent Middle East war effects because it was conducted from February \u206023 \u200bto March 2 and so only \u200bcaught the very beginning of the US-Israeli attack on Iran and subsequent spike \u200bin energy prices.<\/p>\n
It has been a confusing day for markets trying to make sense of Trump’s changing positions. Earlier ho said “the war [on Iran] will be over very soon” sending markets into relief more. Later he said he agreed with US War Secretary Hesketh that “we are just getting started”. It seems to be a mistake for markets to gamble on anything he says.<\/p>\n
You may wish to consider subscribing to our specialist daily newsletter. Details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Wholesale swap rates<\/a> are almost certainly falling today as risk premiums recede quickly on bewildering TACO sentiment. Keep an eye on our chart<\/a> below which will record the final positions closer to 5pm. The 90 day bank bill rate was up +1 bp at 2.49% on Monday. Today, the Australian 10 year bond yield is down -15 bps from this time yesterday at 4.85%. The China 10 year bond rate is up +1 bp at 1.81%. The Japanese 10 year bond is down -6 bps at 2.16% today. The NZ Government 10 year bond rate is now at 4.60%, down -10 bps from this time yesterday. The RBNZ data is now ‘prior day’ with Monday rate up +19 bps at 4.68%. The UST 10yr yield is down -10 bps from this time yesterday, now at 4.11%.<\/p>\n
The local equity market has firmed +0.4% in Tuesday trade, so far. The ASX200 is up +1.4% in afternoon trade. Tokyo has opened on Tuesday up +3.3% in its opening trade. Hong Kong is up +1.5% and Shanghai is up +0.4%. Singapore is up +1.7%. Wall Street its Monday trade with the S&P500 up +0.8%.<\/p>\n
American oil prices have fallen back sharply with the WTI benchmark down -US$30, now at just under US$85\/bbl, while the international Brent price is now just over US$88.50\/bbl. These levels are suddenly back to March 7 levels but that embeds a rise of +US$28 from the start of 2026, or +50%.<\/p>\n
There have been few trades so far today on the secondary market, and the price is down -50c to $44.50\/NZU. See our daily chart tracker<\/a> of the NZU price for carbon, courtesy of emsTradepoint<\/a>.<\/p>\n
In early Asian trade, gold has risen from this time yesterday, up +US$103\/oz or +2% and now back at US$5173\/oz. Silver is up a sharp +US$7 to US$89\/oz.<\/p>\n
The Kiwi dollar is up +60 bps from this time yesterday against the USD, now at just on 59.2 USc. Against the Aussie we are down -20 bps at 83.8 AUc. Against the euro we are up +10 bps at 51 euro cents. This all means the TWI-5 is now just over 62.8 and up +40 bps from where we were this time yesterday.<\/p>\n
The bitcoin price is now at US$69,309 and up +4.8% from this time yesterday. Volatility has been moderate, at +\/- 2.4%.<\/p>\n
\n AU$
\n TWI-5
\n \u00a5en
\n \u00a5uan
\n \u20acuro
\n GBP
\n Bitcoin<\/p>\n
\n 2 years %
\n 3 years %
\n 4 years %
\n 5 years %
\n 7 years %
\n 10 years %<\/p>\n
\n ![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/soil-moisture-2026-02-14.gif\" "\\"click")
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