Will the RBA pause or cut and what it means to investors and traders

Why the RBA may stop rising interest rates and move to cutting rates later this year 

Following the RBA’s 10 rapid rate hikes, inflation has cooled more than expected with underlying inflation falling, and being revised down, to 4.9% year-on-year. Still, we need to consider, inflation is at 30-year highs. Financial conditions are also quite restrictive. And this is why the RBA Governor Philp Lowe said a pause in rate hikes may be near, which would allow time for the central bank to “assess the state of the economy”.

That said, the RBA projects inflation falling to 4.75% over 2023, which shows that inflation will remain sticky this year. And that is something investors and traders will need to navigate.

We also argue that RBA will not be in a rush to cut rates this year, even though the RBA says points to Australians experiencing financial stress with the full-interest rates hikes not yet being felt in full.

Has the RBA caused a pressure cooker moment for Australian households? 

Household spending is slowing, banks’ bad and doubtful debts have increased, while the RBA themselves noted insolvencies and bankruptcies have risen from inflationary pressures and interest rates. And yet conditions are not expected to improve any time soon. Business surveys are pointing to weaker conditions and spending ahead, while the RBA expects employment to fall over 2023. The central bank also notes that households and businesses are finding it tough, yet the full effects of interest rates have not yet been felt. These pressure points, suggest the RBA will likely pause rate hikes in April, which is also what futures markets are suggesting too, that the RBA will keep rates at 3.6%.

The RBA’s Christopher Kent also points to tough times ahead too; with 880,000 Australians with fixed rate mortgages, rolling over to variable this year and potentially succumbing to financial stress. He said these Aussies will be impacted by a ‘sizeable jump’ in their mortgages and forced to adjust their spending and saving behaviour. This means, there will be less money flowing in the Australian economy, and we will likely see the reverse wealth effect crescendo. On top of that, 25.3% of mortgage holders in Australia, or 1.23 million of mortgages are deemed as ‘at risk’, according to research house Roy Morgan.

In summary, the RBA will be forced to pause hikes, to avoid further distress on households, which are the life blood of the nation, with the services sector making up some 70% of GPD. In saying that, we don’t see the RBA cutting rates any time soon, as that would deteriorate the financial ecosystem and some Australian banks have already started to cut home loan rates. The RBA’s Christopher Kent conceded that higher interest rates also act as an incentive for Australians to save money and pay down mortgages quicker.

Monthly inflation falls more than expected, retail sales show household activity is grinding lower 

 

Monthly inflation data showed that February CPI fell to a 6.8% annual pace, down from the 7.4% prior print. This marks the second straight month of price cooling and reinforces the RBA’s view, that inflation peaked last quarter. Beneath the surface, we can see some trends occurring. New dwellings annual price growth hit 13%, which is the smallest pace in a year, as building material costs ease. Fuel prices also slowed, to the lowest level in two years, while other CPI items also moderated, with recreational price inflation cooling, led by holiday travel and accommodation. 

Earlier this week retail sales data showed Australian household activity and confidence is falling, crimped by higher interest rates, and 30-year high inflation. Retail sales only rose a modest 0.2% In February. This points to diminishing consumer spending power, with higher costs of living causing households to slow their spending. 

Importantly this week’s retail sales and the monthly CPI numbers, are the final two inputs that RBA policymakers will review, ahead of next week’s meeting

What are the implications if the RBA pauses rates hikes?

Foreign Exchange (FX)

The Australian dollar would likely be pressured lower against countries’ currencies that are in rising interest rate environments. For example, the Australian dollar against the US dollar (the AUDUSD pair) has already fallen 6% this year, but it could devalue further, given the US central bank, the Fed ‘has more work to do’, to bring down inflation. Meaning the Fed can keep rising rates, while the RBA is running out of power (as we illustrated in the article). In this scenario, you may see traders selling AUDUSD positions.

As for other FX pairs, given the ECB is expected to keep rising rates, to tame persistent inflation in Europe, you might consider looking at the Euro dollar against the Australian dollar (the EURAUD pair). The pair has already risen 3.4% this year, but should theoretically be supported higher, as the ECB has power to hike, while the RBA is likely to pause rate hikes.