USD/CHF steadies near 0.7800 on hopes for Iran conflict resolution
- USD/CHF rises as the US Dollar edges higher after a sharp intraday decline in the previous session.
- Trump said the Iran war could end “very soon” amid mounting economic and political pressures.
- SNB’s Martin reiterated readiness to act against excessive Franc appreciation amid a complex geopolitical backdrop.
USD/CHF edges higher after two days of losses, trading around 0.7780 during the Asian hours on Tuesday. The pair gains ground as the US Dollar (USD) inches higher after a sharp intraday drop in the previous session.
The Greenback depreciated as safe-haven demand reduced on hopes for a quick resolution to the Iran conflict. US President Donald Trump said the war with Iran could be resolved “very soon,” as he faces mounting economic and political pressure after days of sharp volatility in oil markets.
Traders are awaiting key US inflation data, including the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index, due later this week for fresh signals on the Federal Reserve’s policy outlook.
Switzerland’s Consumer Sentiment Index stood at -30 in February 2026, unchanged from January and close to its highest level in nearly a year, slightly below market expectations of -29.
The upside for the USD/CHF pair may remain limited as the Swiss Franc (CHF) could strengthen while traders stay cautious about the Middle East conflict. However, Swiss National Bank (SNB) Vice-President Antoine Martin reiterated the central bank’s readiness to act against excessive Franc appreciation amid a complex geopolitical backdrop.
Swiss Franc FAQs
The Swiss Franc (CHF) is Switzerland’s official currency. It is among the top ten most traded currencies globally, reaching volumes that well exceed the size of the Swiss economy. Its value is determined by the broad market sentiment, the country’s economic health or action taken by the Swiss National Bank (SNB), among other factors. Between 2011 and 2015, the Swiss Franc was pegged to the Euro (EUR). The peg was abruptly removed, resulting in a more than 20% increase in the Franc’s value, causing a turmoil in markets. Even though the peg isn’t in force anymore, CHF fortunes tend to be highly correlated with the Euro ones due to the high dependency of the Swiss economy on the neighboring Eurozone.
The Swiss Franc (CHF) is considered a safe-haven asset, or a currency that investors tend to buy in times of market stress. This is due to the perceived status of Switzerland in the world: a stable economy, a strong export sector, big central bank reserves or a longstanding political stance towards neutrality in global conflicts make the country’s currency a good choice for investors fleeing from risks. Turbulent times are likely to strengthen CHF value against other currencies that are seen as more risky to invest in.
The Swiss National Bank (SNB) meets four times a year – once every quarter, less than other major central banks – to decide on monetary policy. The bank aims for an annual inflation rate of less than 2%. When inflation is above target or forecasted to be above target in the foreseeable future, the bank will attempt to tame price growth by raising its policy rate. Higher interest rates are generally positive for the Swiss Franc (CHF) as they lead to higher yields, making the country a more attractive place for investors. On the contrary, lower interest rates tend to weaken CHF.
Macroeconomic data releases in Switzerland are key to assessing the state of the economy and can impact the Swiss Franc’s (CHF) valuation. The Swiss economy is broadly stable, but any sudden change in economic growth, inflation, current account or the central bank’s currency reserves have the potential to trigger moves in CHF. Generally, high economic growth, low unemployment and high confidence are good for CHF. Conversely, if economic data points to weakening momentum, CHF is likely to depreciate.
As a small and open economy, Switzerland is heavily dependent on the health of the neighboring Eurozone economies. The broader European Union is Switzerland’s main economic partner and a key political ally, so macroeconomic and monetary policy stability in the Eurozone is essential for Switzerland and, thus, for the Swiss Franc (CHF). With such dependency, some models suggest that the correlation between the fortunes of the Euro (EUR) and the CHF is more than 90%, or close to perfect.
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