NZ: OCR lowered to 2.25%

*KEVIN HASSETT SEEN AS FRONTRUNNER IN TRUMP FED CHAIR SEARCH WH Sr. Adviser Hassett emerges as the top pick as the Fed Chair search nears its end - People Familiar.

The Bank of Japan is preparing markets for a possible interest rate hike as soon as next month, sources say, reviving previous hawkish language as worries about sharp yen declines return and political pressure for the bank to keep rates low fades. A change in BOJ messaging over the past week has shifted focus back to inflationary risks of a weak yen from earlier worries about the U.S. economy, comments aimed at reminding markets a December rate hike was still a prospect, two people familiar with the bank's thinking told Reuters. The pivot back to a hawkish footing also follows a key meeting between Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda last week, that appeared to remove immediate political objections to rate hikes from the new administration. To be sure, the decision to raise rates in December or hold until January remains a close call with the U.S. Federal Reserve's rate decision - which comes a week before the BOJ's - seen swaying yen moves, said one of the sources. However, recent remarks from various officials includin BOJ may raise rates in December or delay until January, as it signals markets to expect a potential hike, according to sources.

UK'S OFFICE FOR BUDGET RESPONSIBILITY OUTLOOK: REAL GDP IS FORECAST TO GROW BY 1.5 PER CENT ON AVERAGE OVER THE FORECAST, 0.3 PERCENTAGEPOINTS SLOWER THAN WE PROJECTED IN MARCH, DUE TO LOWER UNDERLYING PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH UK OBR ECONOMIC AND FISCAL OUTLOOK: CURRENT BUDGET SURPLUS MARGIN 21.7 BLN STG IN 2029-30 VS 9.9 BLN STG IN MARCH OMG has the OBR document just leaked? Reuters reporting details from inside the Budget NOW. Blimey. pic.twitter.com/nYv1CuXcca The OBR has broken **the entire Budget**. It's extraordinary. Completely unprecedented. Hyperbole doesn't do it justice Reeves will unveil £26billion in tax rises, ultimately leaving her with £22billion worth of fiscal headroom * The tax burden will hit a record 28 per cent as… Economic and fiscal outlook This Economic and fiscal outlook (EFO) sets out our central forecast and the uncertainties that surround it for the five years to 2030-31, taking account of recent data and government policies announced since our last forecast and up to and including the November 2025 Autumn Budget. The forecasts presented in this document represent our collective view as the three independent members of the OBR’s Budget Responsibility Committee (BRC). We take full responsibility for the judgements that underpin them and for the conclusions we have reached. As always, we have been greatly supported in our work by the staff of the OBR. We are very grateful for their hard work and expertise. We have also drawn on the work and expertise of officials across government in preparing these forecasts. We are grateful for their engagement and insight. During the production of this forecast we learned that a respected former colleague, Pavandeep Dhami, sadly passed away. Pav worked at the O