USD/CHF stays near 0.8000 due thin trading on Good Friday
- USD/CHF trades sideways as activity stays muted amid subdued market participation due to the Good Friday holiday.
- The US Dollar holds ground on safe-haven demand following recent Iran threats from President Trump.
- Swiss inflation rose to 0.3% YoY in March, staying near the SNB’s lower target bound, easing pressure for policy changes.
USD/CHF remains steady after registering over 0.5% gains in the previous day, trading around 0.7980 during the Asian hours. The pair moves little as trading activity may remain subdued due to the Good Friday holiday.
The US Dollar (USD) holds firm against is major peers amid rising safe-haven demand following the recent Iran threats from the US President Donald Trump. US President Donald Trump offered no clarity on steps toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz, warning of intensified military action over the next two to three weeks and issuing strong threats against Iran. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded that recent US strikes on civilian infrastructure would not force a retreat, describing them instead as evidence of an opponent in disarray and moral decline.
Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee shared his concern on Thursday over rising oil prices, noting they could complicate efforts to curb inflation, particularly if gasoline costs surge and lift inflation expectations.
Meanwhile, the Dallas Fed president supported the Federal Reserve holding rates steady at the latest FOMC meeting, noting the labor market has stabilized since late 2025, though payroll growth remains weak and “uncomfortable.”
Swiss inflation rose to 0.3% year-over-year (YoY) in March from 0.1%, below the 0.5% forecast but the highest in a year, reflecting rising energy costs linked to Middle East tensions. Price growth remains near the lower bound of the Swiss National Bank’s 0–2% target, reducing pressure for policy changes.
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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