NZD/USD Price Analysis: Gains capped below the 20-day SMA

NZD/USD rises 0.40% on Thursday, approaching 0.5890.
The pair remains capped by the 20-day SMA, limiting bullish momentum.
Technical indicators show slight improvement but no clear reversal signals.

Patricio Martín FXStreet

The NZD/USD pair edged higher on Thursday, gaining 0.15% to trade near 0.5890. Despite this upward move, the pair continues to face strong resistance at the 20-day Simple Moving Average (SMA), a level that remains unconquered and keeps the broader outlook tilted to the downside.

Technical indicators are offering a mixed picture. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) has gained some ground, moving closer to neutral levels, suggesting slight easing of selling pressure. Meanwhile, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) histogram has turned slightly more positive, with green bars hinting at improving momentum. However, neither indicator provides clear signals of a sustained reversal, keeping traders cautious.

For the bulls to regain control, NZD/USD needs to decisively break above the 20-day SMA, which is currently acting as a key resistance level. Until this level is reclaimed, the outlook will remain bearish. On the downside, any renewed selling pressure could push the pair back towards support at 0.5860 and the psychological 0.5800 level.

NZD/USD daily chart

Author

Patricio Martín

FXStreet

Patricio is an economist from Argentina passionate about global finance and understanding the daily movements of the markets.

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 trades below 160.00 intervention threshold; bullish bias intact

The USD/JPY pair attracts some sellers during the Asian session amid fears that authorities will step in again to prop up the Japanese Yen. Furthermore, the Israel-Lebanon truce prompts some profit-taking around the US Dollar and exerts downward pressure on the currency pair.

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.

XRP plummets as ETF outflows, geopolitical tensions reinforce bearish outlook

Ripple (XRP) edges lower, trading around $1.15 at the time of writing on Thursday, its lowest price since February 6. The cross-border money remittance token is extending the sell-off for the fifth consecutive day, reflecting persistent headwinds from ongoing geopolitical tensions and investor uncertainty.

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.