NZD/USD falling into 0.72 as risk-off theme continues


  • Kiwi sliding in Asia session, NZ has little data until rate statement on Wednesday.
  • Quiet Monday with little on the macro calendar sees risk-off theme continuing from Friday.

The NZD/USD is heading lower in Asia as the pair drop into 0.7200 with little confidence to support the Kiwi in the new week.

China's housing market cooling off

Risk appetite in the Asia markets is being subdued following Chinese housing data that shows the price of new homes in China slowed in February compared to the previous month. Average new home prices in China's seventy largest cities only rose by 0.2% after a 0.3% increase in the previous month according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). China's housing market threatened to overheat in recent years, and it will be difficult to ascertain if the Chinese authorities went to far with their control measures, as a side-by-side comparison of housing figures is difficult after the NBS removed sales prices for affordable housing from their reports.

The Kiwi is suffering a fairly bearish outlook as noted by the research team at Barclays; the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) is widely expected to strike a dovish tone at their March Rate Statement, and further bearish pressure will come from the US Fed, who is expected to lift rates this week.

The RBNZ has their Interest Rate Decision and Rate Statement on Wednesday at 20:00 GMT, but before that will be Westpac's Consumer Survey at 21:00 GMT later today. The survey has declined lately as consumer expectations for improved growth and economic activity continue to wane, and a miss for the indicator could help flush the Kiwi further ahead of the RBNZ's interest rate action.

NZD/USD Technicals

The pair is back into bearish territory once more, facing strong support from 0.7185 (200-day SMA), while a bullish turnaround will face resistance from 0.7355 (March high), with intraday support sitting at 0.7175 (February low) and resistance at 0.7240 (Friday swing low).

Share: Feed news

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


Recommended content

Editors’ Picks

EUR/USD hold comfortably above 1.0750 as USD recovery loses steam

EUR/USD hold comfortably above 1.0750 as USD recovery loses steam

EUR/USD clings to small daily gains above 1.0750 in the early American session on Monday. In the absence of high-tier data releases, the US Dollar finds it difficult to gather recovery momentum and helps the pair hold its ground.

EUR/USD News

GBP/USD struggles to find direction, holds near 1.2550

GBP/USD struggles to find direction, holds near 1.2550

GBP/USD stays under modest bearish pressure and trades near 1.2550 on Tuesday. The neutral risk mood, as reflected by the mixed action seen in US stocks, doesn't allow the pair to make a decisive move in either direction. The Bank of England will announce policy decisions on Thursday.

GBP/USD News

Gold rebounds to $2,320 as US yields edge lower

Gold rebounds to $2,320 as US yields edge lower

After falling to $2,310 in the early European session, Gold recovered to the $2,310 area in the second half of the day. The benchmark 10-year US Treasury bond yield stays in negative territory below 4.5% and helps XAU/USD find support.

Gold News

Ripple lawsuit develops with SEC reply under seal, XRP holders await public redacted versions

Ripple lawsuit develops with SEC reply under seal, XRP holders await public redacted versions

Ripple lawsuit’s latest development is SEC filing, under seal. The regulator has filed its reply brief and supporting exhibits and the documents will be made public on Wednesday, May 8. 

Read more

The impact of economic indicators and global dynamics on the US Dollar

The impact of economic indicators and global dynamics on the US Dollar

Recent labor market data suggest a cooling economy. The disappointing job creation and rising unemployment hint at a slackening demand for labor, which, coupled with subdued wage growth, could signal a slower economic trajectory. 

Read more

Forex MAJORS

Cryptocurrencies

Signatures