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Jason Wong

About

Jason Wong is BNZ’s currency strategist, producing analysis that informs the NZD view. He is also a part of National Australia Bank’s (NAB) Global FX Strategy team, which covers currency markets more broadly, with a focus on the G10 currencies.

Member for

9 years 1 month

Latest articles

Market watching the clock, with fresh wave of US import tariffs tariffs due 4 March, US time. US ISM manufacturing survey disappoints. European equities stronger and rates higher on more defence spending in the region; European currencies outperform
4th Mar 25, 7:47am
Market watching the clock, with fresh wave of US import tariffs tariffs due 4 March, US time. US ISM manufacturing survey disappoints. European equities stronger and rates higher on more defence spending in the region; European currencies outperform
Trump to push ahead with tariffs on Canada and Mexico, an additional 10% tariff to be imposed on Chinese imports. USD broadly stronger on that news; weaker yuan spills over into the NZD and AUD
28th Feb 25, 7:54am
Trump to push ahead with tariffs on Canada and Mexico, an additional 10% tariff to be imposed on Chinese imports. USD broadly stronger on that news; weaker yuan spills over into the NZD and AUD
Trump pushed out the start date for Mexico and Canada tariffs to 2 April, says tariffs on products from the EU like autos and "other things" will be 25%. US equities recover after recent fall. US 10-year Treasury rate pushes down to a fresh 2025 low
27th Feb 25, 7:44am
Trump pushed out the start date for Mexico and Canada tariffs to 2 April, says tariffs on products from the EU like autos and "other things" will be 25%. US equities recover after recent fall. US 10-year Treasury rate pushes down to a fresh 2025 low
US equities down for a fourth consecutive day, US Treasury yields down for a fifth day, with the 10-year rate down 10bps and probing fresh 2025 lows, all on increased policy uncertainty. Safe haven currencies higher, commodity currencies underperform
26th Feb 25, 7:53am
US equities down for a fourth consecutive day, US Treasury yields down for a fifth day, with the 10-year rate down 10bps and probing fresh 2025 lows, all on increased policy uncertainty. Safe haven currencies higher, commodity currencies underperform
Equity markets are weaker, retreating from recent record highs. UST yields slip. USD broadly weaker. Commodity currencies get a boost on trade deal talk. JPY outperforms as JGB yields rise to fresh highs
21st Feb 25, 7:49am
Equity markets are weaker, retreating from recent record highs. UST yields slip. USD broadly weaker. Commodity currencies get a boost on trade deal talk. JPY outperforms as JGB yields rise to fresh highs
Weaker US homebuilder sentiment, an uplift in UK wage inflation, and an upward surprise in core Canadian CPI inflation. RBA kicks off easing cycle with 25bps cut. The cautious policy outlook was also not particularly surprising
19th Feb 25, 7:42am
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Weaker US homebuilder sentiment, an uplift in UK wage inflation, and an upward surprise in core Canadian CPI inflation. RBA kicks off easing cycle with 25bps cut. The cautious policy outlook was also not particularly surprising
European equities rise to a fresh record highs. President Xi meets with Chinese IT leaders, a strong signal of a turnaround from his crackdown on the sector. RBA widely expected to kick-start easing cycle later this afternoon
18th Feb 25, 7:19am
European equities rise to a fresh record highs. President Xi meets with Chinese IT leaders, a strong signal of a turnaround from his crackdown on the sector. RBA widely expected to kick-start easing cycle later this afternoon
Ukraine war negotiation talk supports risk sentiment. Higher than expected US PPI data but weak components that feed into PCE deflator; US Treasuries rally, reversing some of previous day's move
14th Feb 25, 7:44am
Ukraine war negotiation talk supports risk sentiment. Higher than expected US PPI data but weak components that feed into PCE deflator; US Treasuries rally, reversing some of previous day's move
Much stronger US CPI data drive US rates up; just one Fed rate cut this year now priced in. Stronger USD post CPI reverse course. NZD recovers
13th Feb 25, 7:50am
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Much stronger US CPI data drive US rates up; just one Fed rate cut this year now priced in. Stronger USD post CPI reverse course. NZD recovers
BoE cuts policy rate by 25bps to 4.5%. US 10-year rate up modestly overnight but down from NZ close pre-Waitangi Day. Treasury Secretary Bessent targets lower 10-year rate; US ISM services survey underwhelms
7th Feb 25, 7:47am
BoE cuts policy rate by 25bps to 4.5%. US 10-year rate up modestly overnight but down from NZ close pre-Waitangi Day. Treasury Secretary Bessent targets lower 10-year rate; US ISM services survey underwhelms
Large fallout from Trump tariffs pared back after delay for Mexico announced. Less reaction in the rates market due to offsetting forces; UST curves show mild flattening. NZ rates show notable fall
4th Feb 25, 7:44am
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Large fallout from Trump tariffs pared back after delay for Mexico announced. Less reaction in the rates market due to offsetting forces; UST curves show mild flattening. NZ rates show notable fall
Trump says he'd rather not increase tariffs on China, adding to the sense that tariffs aren't an immediate threat to the economy/market. USD extends losses for the week; Soft US PMI services index adds to the downdraft
27th Jan 25, 7:26am
Trump says he'd rather not increase tariffs on China, adding to the sense that tariffs aren't an immediate threat to the economy/market. USD extends losses for the week; Soft US PMI services index adds to the downdraft
Trump calls for lower oil prices and lower interest rates, but these benchmarks move little. The NZD rises. Focus today on BoJ meeting where a rate hike is widely expected
24th Jan 25, 8:02am
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Trump calls for lower oil prices and lower interest rates, but these benchmarks move little. The NZD rises. Focus today on BoJ meeting where a rate hike is widely expected
US equities continue to power up towards a fresh record high, albeit led by the IT sector, with narrow gains and most sectors weaker. Trump continues to threaten import tariffs, but the actual path remains unclear
23rd Jan 25, 7:42am
US equities continue to power up towards a fresh record high, albeit led by the IT sector, with narrow gains and most sectors weaker. Trump continues to threaten import tariffs, but the actual path remains unclear
Trump "thinking" about a 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico from 1 Feb; market "thinking" it probably won't happen as market jolt fades; CAD fully recovers from a 5-year low "Massive" announcement on infrastructure coming today
22nd Jan 25, 7:50am
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Trump "thinking" about a 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico from 1 Feb; market "thinking" it probably won't happen as market jolt fades; CAD fully recovers from a 5-year low "Massive" announcement on infrastructure coming today
Trump inaugurated; his address outlined priorities. USD broadly weaker down around 1%; NZD up 1.3%. US markets closed for holiday, but equity and Treasury futures nudge higher
21st Jan 25, 7:37am
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Trump inaugurated; his address outlined priorities. USD broadly weaker down around 1%; NZD up 1.3%. US markets closed for holiday, but equity and Treasury futures nudge higher
Trump and President Xi talked on Friday night and "the call was a very good one". US equities ended last week on a strong note. Focus this week will be on Trump's executive orders post inauguration
20th Jan 25, 7:21am
Trump and President Xi talked on Friday night and "the call was a very good one". US equities ended last week on a strong note. Focus this week will be on Trump's executive orders post inauguration
US retail sales show a robust end to last year. Incoming US Treasury Secretary Bessent gives market-friendly comments. Japanese yen firms as market confident of a rate hike coming
17th Jan 25, 7:53am
US retail sales show a robust end to last year. Incoming US Treasury Secretary Bessent gives market-friendly comments. Japanese yen firms as market confident of a rate hike coming
US core CPI slightly weaker than markets expected. UK CPI data also softer than expected. BoJ hike next week remain live. NZ rates market continues cross-market underperformance, exacerbated by positioning; NZGB 10yr at a 7-month high
16th Jan 25, 7:46am
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US core CPI slightly weaker than markets expected. UK CPI data also softer than expected. BoJ hike next week remain live. NZ rates market continues cross-market underperformance, exacerbated by positioning; NZGB 10yr at a 7-month high
Modest recovery in US equities after their slump following the Fed's hawkish rate cut. US 10-year rate rises to its highest level since the end of May; curve steepens
20th Dec 24, 7:59am
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Modest recovery in US equities after their slump following the Fed's hawkish rate cut. US 10-year rate rises to its highest level since the end of May; curve steepens
Commodity and Asia-pacific currencies underperform; NZD, AUD, CAD, Asia Dollar index fall to year, or multi-year, lows. US retail sales data conveying robust consumer spending
18th Dec 24, 7:47am
Commodity and Asia-pacific currencies underperform; NZD, AUD, CAD, Asia Dollar index fall to year, or multi-year, lows. US retail sales data conveying robust consumer spending
PMI data show rising momentum across the services sector in Europe, with the US continuing to outperform. US Treasury yields near session highs after the data; 10-year rate at 4.41%; US equities stronger
17th Dec 24, 7:55am
PMI data show rising momentum across the services sector in Europe, with the US continuing to outperform. US Treasury yields near session highs after the data; 10-year rate at 4.41%; US equities stronger
US PPI data higher than expected but friendly undertones. ECB cuts policy rate by 25bps, but not as dovish as expected. Stronger Australian employment report hoses down rate cut expectations
13th Dec 24, 7:53am
US PPI data higher than expected but friendly undertones. ECB cuts policy rate by 25bps, but not as dovish as expected. Stronger Australian employment report hoses down rate cut expectations
RBA makes a dovish pivot after recent softer data; market brings forward path of easier policy, driving down Australian rates and the AUD
11th Dec 24, 8:04am
RBA makes a dovish pivot after recent softer data; market brings forward path of easier policy, driving down Australian rates and the AUD
China's Politburo shifts from a "prudent" to a "moderately loose" monetary policy stance. The announcement triggered a turnaround in sentiment, with a stronger yuan seeing the NZD and AUD bounce-back
10th Dec 24, 7:48am
China's Politburo shifts from a "prudent" to a "moderately loose" monetary policy stance. The announcement triggered a turnaround in sentiment, with a stronger yuan seeing the NZD and AUD bounce-back