USD/CHF steadies near 0.7800 on hopes for Iran conflict resolution

USD/CHF rises as the US Dollar edges higher after a sharp intraday decline in the previous session.
Trump said the Iran war could end “very soon” amid mounting economic and political pressures.
SNB’s Martin reiterated readiness to act against excessive Franc appreciation amid a complex geopolitical backdrop.

Akhtar Faruqui FXStreet

USD/CHF edges higher after two days of losses, trading around 0.7780 during the Asian hours on Tuesday. The pair gains ground as the US Dollar (USD) inches higher after a sharp intraday drop in the previous session.

The Greenback depreciated as safe-haven demand reduced on hopes for a quick resolution to the Iran conflict. US President Donald Trump said the war with Iran could be resolved “very soon,” as he faces mounting economic and political pressure after days of sharp volatility in oil markets.

Traders are awaiting key US inflation data, including the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index, due later this week for fresh signals on the Federal Reserve’s policy outlook.

Switzerland’s Consumer Sentiment Index stood at -30 in February 2026, unchanged from January and close to its highest level in nearly a year, slightly below market expectations of -29.

The upside for the USD/CHF pair may remain limited as the Swiss Franc (CHF) could strengthen while traders stay cautious about the Middle East conflict. However, Swiss National Bank (SNB) Vice-President Antoine Martin reiterated the central bank’s readiness to act against excessive Franc appreciation amid a complex geopolitical backdrop.

Swiss Franc FAQs

What key factors drive the Swiss Franc?

The Swiss Franc (CHF) is Switzerland’s official currency. It is among the top ten most traded currencies globally, reaching volumes that well exceed the size of the Swiss economy. Its value is determined by the broad market sentiment, the country’s economic health or action taken by the Swiss National Bank (SNB), among other factors. Between 2011 and 2015, the Swiss Franc was pegged to the Euro (EUR). The peg was abruptly removed, resulting in a more than 20% increase in the Franc’s value, causing a turmoil in markets. Even though the peg isn’t in force anymore, CHF fortunes tend to be highly correlated with the Euro ones due to the high dependency of the Swiss economy on the neighboring Eurozone.

Why is the Swiss Franc considered a safe-haven currency?

The Swiss Franc (CHF) is considered a safe-haven asset, or a currency that investors tend to buy in times of market stress. This is due to the perceived status of Switzerland in the world: a stable economy, a strong export sector, big central bank reserves or a longstanding political stance towards neutrality in global conflicts make the country’s currency a good choice for investors fleeing from risks. Turbulent times are likely to strengthen CHF value against other currencies that are seen as more risky to invest in.

How do decisions of the Swiss National Bank impact the Swiss Franc?

The Swiss National Bank (SNB) meets four times a year – once every quarter, less than other major central banks – to decide on monetary policy. The bank aims for an annual inflation rate of less than 2%. When inflation is above target or forecasted to be above target in the foreseeable future, the bank will attempt to tame price growth by raising its policy rate. Higher interest rates are generally positive for the Swiss Franc (CHF) as they lead to higher yields, making the country a more attractive place for investors. On the contrary, lower interest rates tend to weaken CHF.

How does economic data influence the value of the Swiss Franc?

Macroeconomic data releases in Switzerland are key to assessing the state of the economy and can impact the Swiss Franc’s (CHF) valuation. The Swiss economy is broadly stable, but any sudden change in economic growth, inflation, current account or the central bank’s currency reserves have the potential to trigger moves in CHF. Generally, high economic growth, low unemployment and high confidence are good for CHF. Conversely, if economic data points to weakening momentum, CHF is likely to depreciate.

How does the Eurozone monetary policy affect the Swiss Franc?

As a small and open economy, Switzerland is heavily dependent on the health of the neighboring Eurozone economies. The broader European Union is Switzerland’s main economic partner and a key political ally, so macroeconomic and monetary policy stability in the Eurozone is essential for Switzerland and, thus, for the Swiss Franc (CHF). With such dependency, some models suggest that the correlation between the fortunes of the Euro (EUR) and the CHF is more than 90%, or close to perfect.

Author

Akhtar Faruqui

FXStreet

Akhtar Faruqui is a Forex Analyst based in New Delhi, India. With a keen eye for market trends and a passion for dissecting complex financial dynamics, he is dedicated to delivering accurate and insightful Forex news and analysis.

EUR/USD gathers strength to near 1.1550 ahead of ECB rate decision

The EUR/USD pair trades in positive territory near 1.1540 during the early Asian trading hours on Thursday. Rising bets that the European Central Bank will deliver a rate hike at its June policy meeting later on Thursday underpin the Euro against the Greenback.

GBP/USD nudges higher above 1.3350 despite rising Fed hike bets

The GBP/USD pair gathers strength to around 1.3385 during the Asian trading hours on Thursday. However, the potential upside might be limited amid rising expectations for higher-for-longer US interest rates. Markets might turn cautious later in the day ahead of the US Producer Price Index report.

Gold holds below $4,100 after rebounding from seven-month lows

Gold clings to moderate gains in Asia on Thursday, following its rebound from the lowest level since November 2025 at $4,024. Renewed US-Iran hostilities push Crude Oil prices higher, reviving inflationary concerns and bolstering hawkish Fed bets. This continues to drive flows away from the non-yielding bullion, though subdued US Dollar demand helps spot prices to find some support.

Bitcoin faces further downside risk amid growing short-term holder losses, weak ETF demand

Bitcoin's recent decline toward the $60,000 level has pushed the market further into bearish territory, with new investors suffering huge unrealized losses, according to a Glassnode report on Wednesday. The firm noted that Bitcoin's earlier May rally now appears increasingly as a "bear bounce".

From sizzle to fizzle: Tech sinks as Oil puts the Fed tail back on the table

Wall Street was not hit by one punch. It was caught between three swinging doors at the same time: a renewed technology unwind, a fresh geopolitical oil bid, and a wave of equity supply that is starting to look less like capital formation and more like a liquidity test for the entire AI complex.

The US economy defies the rules: 100 days into the Oil shock and the recession signal is still missing

More than three months after the start of the Iran war and the resulting disruption to global energy markets, the US economy continues to display remarkable resilience. The conflict has triggered a sharp rise in Oil prices, reignited inflationary pressures and fueled widespread concerns about a potential economic slowdown.