New Zealand Dollar climbs ahead of NZ employment data

NZD/USD trades on the front foot near 0.5886 on Wednesday, advancing around 0.3% and building on the rebound that lifted the pair off the 0.5850 area. The New Zealand Dollar (NZD) benefits from a friendlier risk backdrop and a softer US Dollar (USD), with the pair recovering the ground surrendered during the choppy sessions that followed last week's rally.

Sentiment across risk-sensitive currencies improved after reports that an announcement on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz could arrive imminently. Al Arabiya and Al Hadath, citing high-level sources, indicated that communications are proceeding at full tilt and that progress has been made, although no official confirmation has been issued.

The immediate focus falls on New Zealand's second-quarter labor market report. The Unemployment Rate is forecast to climb to 5.4% from 5.3%, while Employment Change is expected to slow to 0.1% QoQ from 0.2%, a combination that would confirm the gradual loosening underway in the domestic jobs market. The Participation Rate stood at 70.4% in the previous quarter.

The ADP Employment Change is expected to show private hiring slowing to 70K in July from 98K, a print that will shape expectations for Friday's Nonfarm Payrolls. The ISM Services PMI is forecast to tick up to 54.5 from 54, with the Prices Paid component, last at 67.7, likely to attract particular scrutiny given the Fed's focus on services inflation. Fed's Cook is also scheduled to speak. A combination of soft labor data and cooling services prices would undermine the case for further tightening and give NZD/USD room to extend its advance.

Short-term technical analysis:

On the 4-hour chart, NZD/USD trades at 0.5890, holding above both the 20-period Simple Moving Average (SMA) at 0.5876 and the 100-period SMA at 0.5825, which suggests a constructive near-term bullish bias. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) at 65.67 leans toward overbought territory, hinting that upside momentum remains firm but could be vulnerable to bouts of consolidation.

On the topside, immediate resistance is clustered at 0.5895 and 0.5897, ahead of higher barriers at 0.5930 and 0.5965, while a distant technical cap looms near 5,954.00. On the downside, initial support is seen at 0.5882, followed by the 20-period SMA at 0.5876; a deeper pullback would expose the 0.5867 floor before the 100-period SMA at 0.5825 comes into play.

(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)