NZD/USD extends downside to near 0.5800 as Fed’s Powell signals caution on rate cuts
- NZD/USD softens near 0.5815 in Thursday’s Asian session.
- Fed’s Powell said risks remain on both sides of central bank's dual mandate to achieve maximum employment and stable prices.
- The RBNZ might cut rates further before Governor Brennan takes charge on December 1.
The NZD/USD pair remains on the defensive around 0.5815 during the early Asian session on Thursday. Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell struck a cautious tone on further easing on Tuesday, supporting the US Dollar (USD). The final reading of the US Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the second quarter (Q2) will take center stage later on Thursday.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell maintained a cautious tone on Tuesday, saying the US central bank needed to continue balancing the competing risks of high inflation and a weakening job market in coming rate decisions. Traders are anticipating a 25 basis points (bps) rate cut at the remaining two Fed meetings this year and another reduction in the first quarter of 2026, in line with the central bank's guidance. The cautious tone of the Fed underpins the Greenback and acts as a headwind for the pair.
New Zealand’s Finance Minister Willis on Wednesday appointed Anna Breman as the new governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ). Breman has been appointed for five years, and she will start her new role in early December.
The market expects an aggressive easing cycle before the new governor begins her role, which undermines the Kiwi against the USD. Swaps data compiled by Bloomberg indicated increasing expectations for a substantial 50 bps rate reduction at the RBNZ’s upcoming meeting next month.
New Zealand Dollar FAQs
The New Zealand Dollar (NZD), also known as the Kiwi, is a well-known traded currency among investors. Its value is broadly determined by the health of the New Zealand economy and the country’s central bank policy. Still, there are some unique particularities that also can make NZD move. The performance of the Chinese economy tends to move the Kiwi because China is New Zealand’s biggest trading partner. Bad news for the Chinese economy likely means less New Zealand exports to the country, hitting the economy and thus its currency. Another factor moving NZD is dairy prices as the dairy industry is New Zealand’s main export. High dairy prices boost export income, contributing positively to the economy and thus to the NZD.
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) aims to achieve and maintain an inflation rate between 1% and 3% over the medium term, with a focus to keep it near the 2% mid-point. To this end, the bank sets an appropriate level of interest rates. When inflation is too high, the RBNZ will increase interest rates to cool the economy, but the move will also make bond yields higher, increasing investors’ appeal to invest in the country and thus boosting NZD. On the contrary, lower interest rates tend to weaken NZD. The so-called rate differential, or how rates in New Zealand are or are expected to be compared to the ones set by the US Federal Reserve, can also play a key role in moving the NZD/USD pair.
Macroeconomic data releases in New Zealand are key to assess the state of the economy and can impact the New Zealand Dollar’s (NZD) valuation. A strong economy, based on high economic growth, low unemployment and high confidence is good for NZD. High economic growth attracts foreign investment and may encourage the Reserve Bank of New Zealand to increase interest rates, if this economic strength comes together with elevated inflation. Conversely, if economic data is weak, NZD is likely to depreciate.
The New Zealand Dollar (NZD) tends to strengthen during risk-on periods, or when investors perceive that broader market risks are low and are optimistic about growth. This tends to lead to a more favorable outlook for commodities and so-called ‘commodity currencies’ such as the Kiwi. Conversely, NZD tends to weaken at times of market turbulence or economic uncertainty as investors tend to sell higher-risk assets and flee to the more-stable safe havens.
The attention will shift to the US Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index report for August, which will be published later on Friday. If the report shows softer-than-expected inflation outcome, this could weigh on the USD and cap the downside for the NZD/USD pair.
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