NZD/USD gathers strength above 0.5600 as Chinese Services PMI rises to seven-month high

NZD/USD gains traction to around 0.5620 in Monday’s Asian session.
China's Caixin Services PMI rose to 52.2 vs. 51.5 prior, stronger than expected.
The hawkish remarks from the Fed could underpin the USD and create a headwind for the pair.

Lallalit Srijandorn FXStreet

The NZD/USD pair attracts some buyers to near 0.5620 on Monday during the Asian trading hours on Monday. The New Zealand Dollar (NZD) strengthens after the Chinese Caixin Services Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) data for December.

China's services activity expanded at a faster pace in December, with the Caixin Services PMI rising to 52.2 from 51.5 in November. This reading came in stronger than the expectation of 51.7. The Kiwi edges higher in an immediate reaction to the upbeat Chinese economic data.

Additionally, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) said over the weekend that it will use new tools to provide liquidity to the stock market and reaffirmed its commitment to lower interest rates and the reserve requirement ratio for banks “at an appropriate time” to promote growth. The supportive measures from China boost the Kiwi, as China is a major trading partner for New Zealand.

However, the upside for the pair might be limited amid the potential tariff threats by US President-elect Donald Trump. Trump said that he would charge China an additional 10% tariff, above any additional tariffs, after being inaugurated on January 20. The uncertainty and instability in the Chinese economy could weigh on the China-proxy New Zealand Dollar (NZD) as China is a major trading partner for New Zealand.

The US Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell was suitably hawkish at the December meeting, which has provided some support to the Greenback. However, the decisions remain data-dependent, and a slew of important December data points this week could offer some hints about the interest rate outlook this year. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) Minutes will be published on Wednesday. Later on Friday, the US December labor market data will be closely monitored, including the Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP), Unemployment Rate and Average Hourly Earnings.

New Zealand Dollar FAQs

What key factors drive the New Zealand Dollar?

The New Zealand Dollar (NZD), also known as the Kiwi, is a well-known traded currency among investors. Its value is broadly determined by the health of the New Zealand economy and the country’s central bank policy. Still, there are some unique particularities that also can make NZD move. The performance of the Chinese economy tends to move the Kiwi because China is New Zealand’s biggest trading partner. Bad news for the Chinese economy likely means less New Zealand exports to the country, hitting the economy and thus its currency. Another factor moving NZD is dairy prices as the dairy industry is New Zealand’s main export. High dairy prices boost export income, contributing positively to the economy and thus to the NZD.

How do decisions of the RBNZ impact the New Zealand Dollar?

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) aims to achieve and maintain an inflation rate between 1% and 3% over the medium term, with a focus to keep it near the 2% mid-point. To this end, the bank sets an appropriate level of interest rates. When inflation is too high, the RBNZ will increase interest rates to cool the economy, but the move will also make bond yields higher, increasing investors’ appeal to invest in the country and thus boosting NZD. On the contrary, lower interest rates tend to weaken NZD. The so-called rate differential, or how rates in New Zealand are or are expected to be compared to the ones set by the US Federal Reserve, can also play a key role in moving the NZD/USD pair.

How does economic data influence the value of the New Zealand Dollar?

Macroeconomic data releases in New Zealand are key to assess the state of the economy and can impact the New Zealand Dollar’s (NZD) valuation. A strong economy, based on high economic growth, low unemployment and high confidence is good for NZD. High economic growth attracts foreign investment and may encourage the Reserve Bank of New Zealand to increase interest rates, if this economic strength comes together with elevated inflation. Conversely, if economic data is weak, NZD is likely to depreciate.

How does broader risk sentiment impact the New Zealand Dollar?

The New Zealand Dollar (NZD) tends to strengthen during risk-on periods, or when investors perceive that broader market risks are low and are optimistic about growth. This tends to lead to a more favorable outlook for commodities and so-called ‘commodity currencies’ such as the Kiwi. Conversely, NZD tends to weaken at times of market turbulence or economic uncertainty as investors tend to sell higher-risk assets and flee to the more-stable safe havens.

Author

Lallalit Srijandorn

FXStreet

Lallalit Srijandorn is a Parisian at heart. She has lived in France since 2019 and now becomes a digital entrepreneur based in Paris and Bangkok.

AUD/USD regains mild traction, falters near 0.7150

AUD/USD gathers some steam and manages to flirt with the 0.7150 level on Thursday. However, the pair has retraced some of Wednesday’s significant pullback due to renewed selling pressure on the Greenback and a slight improvement in risk sentiment following hopes of a deal in the Middle East. Wrapping up the Australian docket, the RBA’s Hauser will speak early on Friday.

USD/JPY: Japanese Yen coiled at the line, leaning on everyone but Japan

The Yen is doing very little, and that stasis is the whole story. USD/JPY sits glued near 160.00 not because Japan has found new strength, but because two outside forces are fighting to a draw over it: a US rate complex that keeps the dollar bid, and a Ministry of Finance that refuses to let the line break.

Gold puts its 200-day SMA to the test near $4,420

Gold keeps the bullish stance in place in the latter part of Thursday’s session, although a convincing break above the key $4,500 mark per troy ounce still remains elusive. The precious metal’s advance comes amid the resurgence of some selling interest around the Greenback, improving risk sentiment, and declining US Treasury yields across the board.

Bitcoin falls below $64K as demand turns negative, short-term holders' selling intensifies

Bitcoin has fallen below $64,000 on Thursday amid weakening market demand and mounting selling pressure from short-term holders. The leading cryptocurrency slipped toward the $63,000 level amid a broader risk-off environment, with several key metrics signaling one of the most challenging periods of the current market cycle.

Nonfarm payrolls: Testing the limits of Fed policy patience

The upcoming nonfarm payrolls report for May will provide the final update on the US labor market before Kevin Warsh attends his first policy meeting as the new Fed Chair later this month.

Recession on paper: What really moves the Canadian Loonie now?

Statistics Canada handed the headline writers a gift and the analysts a headache. Real GDP shrank 0.1% on an annualized basis in the first quarter, and with the fourth quarter of 2025 revised down to a 1.0% contraction, that is two negative quarters in a row, the textbook definition of a technical recession and Canada's first since the pandemic.