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NZD/USD edges higher as US Dollar weakens on geopolitical developments

  • NZD/USD edges higher as the US Dollar weakens following geopolitical developments.
  • The postponement of US strikes on Iran temporarily improves market sentiment.
  • Monetary policy expectations in New Zealand remain a key driver for the currency.

NZD/USD trades around 0.5850 on Monday at the time of writing, up 0.24% on the day, benefiting from a broader pullback in the US Dollar (USD) amid a relative easing of geopolitical tensions.

The move follows an announcement by US President Donald Trump, who decided to postpone potential military strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure for five days, citing “constructive” discussions. This development supports risk appetite and weighs on the US Dollar, which initially declined sharply before stabilizing, with the US Dollar Index hovering near the 99.40 area.

However, the overall environment remains uncertain. Iranian sources, cited by Fars News Agency, deny any direct communication with Washington, highlighting the lack of clarity surrounding a potential agreement. These conflicting signals continue to fuel market volatility, particularly for risk-sensitive currencies such as the New Zealand Dollar (NZD).

Investors are also closely monitoring developments around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy flows. Donald Trump indicated that a reopening could occur quickly if a deal is reached, a scenario that could significantly impact Oil prices and reshape global inflation expectations.

On the domestic front, the New Zealand Dollar remains under pressure from mixed fundamentals. Fitch Ratings recently revised New Zealand’s sovereign outlook to negative, pointing to risks linked to energy dependence amid the Middle East war. This comes after a disappointing fourth-quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) release.

Nevertheless, expectations of monetary tightening are providing some support to the currency. Markets are now pricing in roughly a 50% chance of a rate hike as early as May by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ), according to Reuters, which could help limit downside risks for the NZD in the near term.

New Zealand Dollar Price Today

The table below shows the percentage change of New Zealand Dollar (NZD) against listed major currencies today. New Zealand Dollar was the strongest against the Australian Dollar.

USDEURGBPJPYCADAUDNZDCHF
USD-0.08%-0.30%-0.30%-0.10%0.40%-0.06%0.01%
EUR0.08%-0.23%-0.20%-0.02%0.60%0.00%0.09%
GBP0.30%0.23%0.00%0.20%0.82%0.23%0.31%
JPY0.30%0.20%0.00%0.22%0.70%0.17%0.31%
CAD0.10%0.02%-0.20%-0.22%0.47%-0.10%0.06%
AUD-0.40%-0.60%-0.82%-0.70%-0.47%-0.58%-0.39%
NZD0.06%-0.01%-0.23%-0.17%0.10%0.58%0.12%
CHF-0.01%-0.09%-0.31%-0.31%-0.06%0.39%-0.12%

The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the New Zealand Dollar from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the US Dollar, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent NZD (base)/USD (quote).

Author

Ghiles Guezout

Ghiles Guezout is a Market Analyst with a strong background in stock market investments, trading, and cryptocurrencies. He combines fundamental and technical analysis skills to identify market opportunities.

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