- NZD/USD trades in positive territory for the fourth consecutive day near 0.6195 on Thursday.
- Fed held interest rates steady at its June meeting but revised its outlook to one rate cut in 2024.
- The hawkish stance of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s (RBNZ) continues to support the Kiwi against the USD.
The NZD/USD pair extends the rally around 0.6195 despite the weaker US Dollar (USD) on Thursday during the early Asian session. The softer-than-expected US Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation report in May has dragged the USD Index (DXY) lower to 104.25, but the hawkish hold by the Federal Reserve (Fed) helped the DXY to regain some composure.
Inflation in the United States cooled more than expected in May, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) showed on Wednesday. The Consumer Price Index rose 3.3% YoY in May, compared to the previous reading and expectations of 3.4%. On a monthly basis, the CPI figure held flat in May, the first time since July 2022, compared to a 0.3% gain in April.
The core CPI, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, rose 3.4% YoY in May, compared to a 3.6% rise in April and the estimation of 3.5%. On a monthly basis, the core CPI increased 0.2% MoM in May.
The softer CPI report has boosted chances for Fed cuts this year and exerted some selling pressure on the USD. Investors are now pricing in a 73% chance of a rate cut from the Fed in September, up from 53% before the CPI data was released, according to the CME FedWatch tool.
Apart from this, the Fed held interest rates steady at their current range of 5.25% to 5.5% at its June meeting on Wednesday, as widely expected by market players. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said that the restrictive stance on monetary policy is having the effect on inflation that central bankers had hoped to see, but the Fed will wait to see sufficient progress. The Greenback recovers some lost ground following the hawkish hold of the Fed.
On the other hand, China’s CPI inflation remained steady in May at 0.3% YoY, missing expectations for a 0.4% growth in the reported period. Meanwhile, China’s Producer Price Index (PPI) declined 1.4% YoY in May from the previous reading of a 2.5% drop, above the market forecast of a 1.5% decrease. However, the mixed Chinese economic data had little impact on the New Zealand Dollar (NZD), even though China is New Zealand's biggest trading partner.
The hawkish stance of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) continues to underpin the Kiwi and create a tailwind for the NZD/USD pair for the time being. The New Zealand central bank is concerned about sticky domestic inflation and has an increased chance of a future hike, while the RBNZ is expected to maintain its current policy stance until at least mid-2025.
Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.
If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.
FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.
The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.
Recommended content
Editors’ Picks
AUD/USD: Extra gains need to clear 0.6400
AUD/USD rose for the third day in a row, approaching the key 0.6400 resistance on the back of the acute pullback in the US Dollar amid mounting recession concerns and global trade war fear.
EUR/USD: Powell and the NFP will put the rally to the test
EUR/USD gathered extra steam and advanced to multi-month peaks near 1.1150, although the move fizzled out somewhat as the NA session drew to a close on Thursday.
Gold holds positive ground above $3,100, all eyes on US NFP data
Gold price recovers some lost ground to near $3,115 during the late American session on Thursday after facing some profit-taking in the previous session. Escalating concerns over a global trade war and ongoing geopolitical risks boost the Gold price, a traditional safe-haven asset.
Ethereum: Short-term holders may not impact ETH's price, Pectra mainnet upgrade set for May 7
Ethereum declined by 3% on Thursday as market participants continued to react to President Donald Trump's announcements regarding reciprocal tariffs. However, the selling pressure may not persist since most ETH short-term holders already sold their assets in March.
Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs on the way
United States (US) President Donald Trump’s self-styled “Liberation Day” has finally arrived. After four straight failures to kick off Donald Trump’s “day one” tariffs that were supposed to be implemented when President Trump assumed office 72 days ago, Trump’s team is slated to finally unveil a sweeping, lopsided package of “reciprocal” tariffs.
The Best brokers to trade EUR/USD
SPONSORED Discover the top brokers for trading EUR/USD in 2025. Our list features brokers with competitive spreads, fast execution, and powerful platforms. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, find the right partner to navigate the dynamic Forex market.