Australia's gross domestic product expanded 0.3 per cent in the three months through September from the prior quarter, and 2.8 per cent from a year earlier, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said. Economists had expected 0.6 per cent growth on quarter and a 3.3 per cent on-year increase. Economists say there's more to come.
"It would be tempting to blame the slowdown in GDP growth in the third quarter on temporary factors. But we believe that the full effects of falling house prices and tighter credit conditions haven't been felt yet and we expect GDP growth to slow further next year," said Marcel Thieliant, senior Australia and New Zealand economist for Capital Economics.
Ross Weston, head of trading for Kiwibank, said it was "a bit of a shocker of a GDP report and may give the RBA a bit of a fright" as it is tipping the economy to expand around 3.5 per cent this year and it is currently sitting at 2.8 per cent.
Futures markets are now pricing in only a 20 per cent probability of a hike by Christmas next year, down from 30 per cent before the GDP data release, Reuters reported.
The kiwi, meanwhile, stuck to a tight range against the greenback. Markets were jittery after a series of tweets from US President Donald Trump indicating he's ready to impose tariffs if a US-China deal can't be reached, but sentiment got a lift when China's commerce ministry was more upbeat.
"The economic and trade teams of the two sides will actively promote the consultation work within 90 days in accordance with a clear timetable and roadmap," according to a translated response to questions by the ministry's press spokesperson. The comments were posted on its web page.
"The kiwi dollar is very whippy and very sensitive to those sort of remarks," said Weston.
The kiwi traded at 4.7458 Chinese yuan from 4.7652 yuan. It dropped to 78.08 yen from 78.78 yen yesterday and traded at 61.02 euro cents from 61.16 cents.
The local currency decreased to 54.43 British pence from 54.60 pence yesterday. The trade-weighted index was at 75.19 from 75.40 yesterday.
New Zealand's two-year swap rate decreased 1 basis point to 2.06 per cent and 10-year swaps dropped 3 basis points to 2.82 per cent.