USD/CHF steadies near 0.7900 as SNB keeps interest rate flat at 0%
- USD/CHF holds steady after the Swiss National Bank decided to keep interest rates unchanged at 0% in Q1 2026.
- SNB signals greater willingness to intervene in FX markets to curb CHF appreciation.
- The US Dollar recovers its daily losses, supported by a more hawkish shift in the Fed’s policy outlook.
USD/CHF depreciated after registering over 1% gains in the previous session, trading around 0.7920 during the Asian hours on Thursday. The pair moved little after the Swiss National Bank (SNB) decided to keep its interest rate flat at 0% in the first quarter of 2026, as widely expected. Traders will likely observe the SNB Press Conference later in the day.
The SNB Monetary Policy Assessment indicated a greater willingness to intervene in FX markets amid the Middle East crisis, aiming to curb excessive Swiss Franc (CHF) appreciation and safeguard price stability. The economic outlook for Switzerland remains uncertain in the months ahead.
Moreover, the US Dollar (USD) has recovered its daily losses amid a more hawkish shift in the Federal Reserve (Fed) outlook. The Fed left interest rates unchanged at 3.50%–3.75% at its March meeting. Chair Jerome Powell noted that while inflation is expected to ease gradually, the pace of disinflation may be slower than previously anticipated. Powell also highlighted that rising oil prices tied to the Iran conflict are likely to push inflation higher in the near term.
On the US data side, producer prices rose more than expected in February, reinforcing signs that inflationary pressures remain persistent beyond energy costs. The US Producer Price Index (PPI) increased 0.7% month-over-month (MoM) in February, up from 0.5% in January and well above expectations of 0.3%, marking the largest rise in seven months. Investors now look ahead to weekly jobless claims for further insight into labor market conditions.
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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