Australian and New Zealand central bank days during the Asian session
Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2026 8:13 am
RBA and Wellington decisions arrive during Asian hours, which for European traders means early morning or overnight. That raises a practical question: is it worth trading them at all, or only their aftermath when Europe opens?
The reaction in the first hour is often the largest, but liquidity is thinner than during London hours, and spreads widen. By the time Europe opens, the pair may have settled into a new range. A European trader can treat that range as information rather than chasing.
A method to evaluate this: for recent meetings, compare the move from the decision to the London open with the move from the London open to the New York close. If the second segment usually continues the first, there may be a follow-through trade. If it usually reverses, a fade may be more appropriate.
Both banks now publish statements with forward guidance, which can matter more than the decision itself.
Do you trade these meetings live or wait?
The reaction in the first hour is often the largest, but liquidity is thinner than during London hours, and spreads widen. By the time Europe opens, the pair may have settled into a new range. A European trader can treat that range as information rather than chasing.
A method to evaluate this: for recent meetings, compare the move from the decision to the London open with the move from the London open to the New York close. If the second segment usually continues the first, there may be a follow-through trade. If it usually reverses, a fade may be more appropriate.
Both banks now publish statements with forward guidance, which can matter more than the decision itself.
Do you trade these meetings live or wait?