|

NZD/USD gains as softer US Dollar, RBNZ's tone bolster sentiment

  • NZD/USD posts modest gains, supported by a softer US Dollar and improved risk sentiment.
  • Markets are pricing in nearly 87% chance of a 25-basis-point rate cut by the Federal Reserve in December.
  • The Reserve Bank of New Zealand maintains a restrictive tone after its latest rate reduction.

NZD/USD trades slightly higher around 0.5740 on Tuesday at the time of writing, up 0.20% on the day. The pair benefits from renewed downward pressure on the US Dollar (USD), which remains weak as expectations build for further monetary easing from the Federal Reserve (Fed) in December.

Investors are increasingly betting on an additional rate cut at the Fed’s final policy meeting of the year. According to the CME FedWatch tool, markets assign nearly 87% chances to a 25-basis-point reduction, a move reinforced by recent soft US economic indicators and still-contained inflationary pressures. This outlook weighs on the Greenback and supports the pair.

On the New Zealand side, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) lowered its Official Cash Rate (OCR) by 25 basis points to 2.25% last week, but policymakers simultaneously signaled that the easing cycle is likely over. The central bank highlighted early signs of stabilization in the economy, reducing the need for additional cuts and providing some support to the New Zealand Dollar (NZD) against the USD.

Looking ahead, traders are focused on upcoming Chinese data, particularly the RatingDog Services Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) due on Wednesday. The market expects a slight slowdown to 52 in November from 52.6 in October. A weaker-than-expected reading, however, could weigh on the NZD, which often acts as a proxy for Chinese economic momentum given New Zealand’s strong trade links with China.

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 Japanese Yen.

USDEURGBPJPYCADAUDNZDCHF
USD0.02%0.09%0.28%-0.16%-0.38%-0.20%-0.05%
EUR-0.02%0.08%0.25%-0.18%-0.40%-0.22%-0.07%
GBP-0.09%-0.08%0.16%-0.25%-0.49%-0.29%-0.14%
JPY-0.28%-0.25%-0.16%-0.44%-0.66%-0.49%-0.33%
CAD0.16%0.18%0.25%0.44%-0.22%-0.05%0.11%
AUD0.38%0.40%0.49%0.66%0.22%0.18%0.33%
NZD0.20%0.22%0.29%0.49%0.05%-0.18%0.15%
CHF0.05%0.07%0.14%0.33%-0.11%-0.33%-0.15%

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.

More from Ghiles Guezout
Share:

Markets move fast. We move first.

Orange Juice Newsletter brings you expert driven insights - not headlines. Every day on your inbox.

By subscribing you agree to our Terms and conditions.

Editor's Picks

EUR/USD hovers around 1.1700, US Jobless Claims data eyed

EUR/USD is trading in a range around 1.1700 in European trading on Thursday. The pair's upside remains capped by a pause in the US Dollar decline, led by the less hawkish Fed outcome. Markets await the release of the US weekly Initial Jobless Claims report for further trading incentives. 

GBP/USD struggles below 1.3400 ahead of US employment data

GBP/USD stays defensive below 1.3400 in the European session on Thursday, pressured by a modest US Dollar upswing. Nonetheless, the potential downside might be limited after the US Federal Reserve delivered a rate cut at its December policy meeting. Traders brace for the US weekly Initial Jobless Claims report due later in the day. 

Gold bounces off $4,200 neighborhood, down a little amid mixed fundamental cues

Gold recovers slightly from the vicinity of the $4,200 mark, though it sticks to its negative bias through the first half of the European session. The US Dollar attracts some buyers and recovers a part of the previous day's post-FOMC slump to its lowest level since October 24. This fails to assist the commodity in capitalizing on its modest intraday uptick to the weekly high.

Solana dips as hawkish Fed cuts dampen market sentiment

Solana price is trading below $130 on Thursday, after being rejected at the upper boundary of its falling wedge pattern. The broader market weakness following the Federal Reserve’s hawkish rate cut has added to downside momentum.

Fed projects only 50 bps of additional rate cuts between 2026 and 2027; lifts GDP forecasts

The Federal Open Market Committee’s (FOMC) latest dot plot, released on Wednesday, indicates that interest rates will average 3.4% by the end of 2026, in line with the September projection.

Solana dips as hawkish Fed cuts dampen market sentiment
Solana (SOL) price is trading below $130 at the time of writing on Thursday, after being rejected at the upper boundary of its falling wedge pattern. The broader market weakness following the Federal Reserve’s hawkish rate cut has added to downside momentum.