Kiwi mortgage holders may see an increase in longer fixed term rates over the coming weeks after the US Federal Reserve increased its cash rate from zero to 0.25 per cent today.
The US rate affects the cost of borrowing for New Zealand banks on the international markets.
Westpac currency strategist Imre Speizer said the 10 year swap rate had not moved at all after the announcement in the US today, which had been well-signaled to the market.
But since New Zealand's Reserve Bank cut the official cash rate to 2.5 per cent last Thursday the two year swap rate had risen from 2.7 per cent to 2.84 per cent.
"That's quite a big move for a swap market," he said.