New Zealand Dollar holds losses as US Dollar strengthens on safe-haven demand
- NZD/USD remains under pressure as China’s RatingDog Manufacturing PMI of 51.7 weighed heavily on the New Zealand Dollar.
- Safe-haven demand rises as Iran refuses direct talks with US envoys in Doha, keeping geopolitical risks alive.
- The CME FedWatch tool shows fed funds futures are pricing in a nearly 63% chance of a September rate hike.
NZD/USD loses ground after registering modest gains in the previous day, trading around 0.5670 during the early European hours. The pair remains weaker as the New Zealand Dollar (NZD) holds losses following China’s RatingDog release, which showed that the Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) declined to 51.7 in June, compared to 51.8 in the previous reading. This figure came in line with the market consensus.
The US Dollar (USD) strengthens against its major peers, including the New Zealand Dollar, on safe-haven demand tied to escalating geopolitical friction. Uncertainty is clouding the US-Iran Doha peace talks after US negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff arrived in Qatar to meet with mediators. Tehran’s subsequent announcement that it will not meet directly with the US envoys has dimmed prospects for a swift or lasting resolution, keeping geopolitical risk premiums alive and well in the market.
Meanwhile, the US Dollar rises amid rising hawkish sentiment surrounding the Federal Reserve's policy outlook. At its June meeting, the Fed held its benchmark interest rate steady at a target range of 3.50% to 3.75% while notably removing previous language that hinted at future rate cuts. Reflecting this hawkish shift, the CME FedWatch tool shows that fed funds futures are now pricing in a nearly 63% chance of an interest rate hike by September.
Traders are likely focusing on upcoming Federal Reserve (Fed) Chairman Kevin Warsh's appearance at the ECB Forum in Sintra, alongside Wednesday's releases of the ADP private employment report and the ISM Manufacturing PMI. Market attention will shift toward Thursday's Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) monthly jobs report.
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.
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