NZD/USD Bounces Back from One-Week Low Pre-FOMC Decision, Still Capped Below 0.6000
NZD/USD currency pair experiences a small bounce from one-week low in Tuesday’s Asian trading session, moving towards the 0.5975 area as the US Dollar gets some relief from its recent surge. Hopes for an extension of the US-China trade truce contribute some strength to the Kiwi. But gains are still restricted with investors showing caution ahead of the highly anticipated FOMC policy announcement on Wednesday. With speculation that the Federal Reserve will keep higher interest rates to battle inflationary pressures, market players are still cautious about taking aggressive positions, keeping the NZD/USD pair under the 0.6000 level. KEY LOOKOUTS • The markets are waiting for a clearer picture of the Fed’s interest rate policy, which will have significant USD volatility and influence NZD/USD direction. • Tuesday’s JOLTS Job Openings and Consumer Confidence Index will provide a peek into labor market health and consumer confidence and could affect the USD. • Expectations of an extension of the trade truce underpin risk appetite and the Kiwi, but any trade talks breakdown will put downward pressure on NZD/USD. • While the rebound occurs, NZD/USD is still capped against the psychological 0.6000 level, which indicates a dearth of strong bullish sentiment in the face of macroeconomic uncertainty. NZD/USD pair makes a mild recovery from a one-week low, bolstered by a temporary respite in the US Dollar’s recent advance and fresh hopes of a prolonged US-China trade ceasefire. In spite of this rally, the pair is still locked in tight below the crucial 0.6000 level as traders remain risk-averse in the run-up to the next FOMC interest rate announcement. Hopes that the Federal Reserve will stand firm on a hawkish line because of inflation fears still cap the upside for the Kiwi. With major US economic data such as JOLTS Job Openings and Consumer Confidence later today, players are more likely to stay on the sidelines until there is clearer direction of US monetary policy. NZD/USD rebounds from a one-week low but is unable to rise above the 0.6000 level due to cautious market sentiment. Traders hold out for the FOMC decision and important US data for more decisive direction. Hopes of a US-China trade truce provide only limited support for the Kiwi. • NZD/USD recovers marginally from a one-week low, reaching the 0.5975 area during Tuesday’s Asian session. • The US Dollar takes a breather after a steep rally, giving relief to the Kiwi in the short term. • Expectations of a prolonged decline in US-China trade tensions underpin risk appetite and the antipodean currency. • The pair stays below the 0.6000 level, reflecting scant bullish interest. • Market attention turns to Wednesday’s FOMC decision, with speculation leaning towards a dovish tone. • US economic data releases such as JOLTS and Consumer Confidence may be affecting near-term action. • Defensive trading is the order of the day, with investors waiting for greater clarity on US interest rate policy and inflation expectations. The NZD/USD currency pair experienced some calmness in the Asian session on Tuesday, as the US Dollar rested after its recent rally. Market mood was also somewhat boosted by renewed hopes of an extension of the US-China trade ceasefire, which tends to favor risk-sensitive currencies such as the New Zealand Dollar. With geopolitical tensions seeming to dissipate a tad, traders saw an excuse to refrain from over-selling the Kiwi, and hence the pair staged a small bounce. NZD/USD DAILY PRICE CHART SOURCE: TradingView Nonetheless, investor focus continues to be strongly set on the coming US Federal Reserve policy reveal, which is likely to dictate the broad market tone. With inflation remaining the primary issue, the Fed is expected to have a tight interest rate stance. As long as policy intent remains unclear, market participants are likely to be tepid, holding back from making any firm directional punts. In the meantime, Tuesday’s US economic data releases, such as job openings and consumer confidence, are also set to influence near-term sentiment toward the NZD/USD exchange rate. TECHNICAL ANALYSIS NZD/USD is still under pressure as it trades below the psychological 0.6000 level, which indicates prevailing bearish sentiment in the market. The latest rebound from a one-week low has not yet validated a reversal trend, as the pair still struggles to break above strong resistance near 0.6000. A bounce above this level could pave the way for a short-term upturn towards the 0.6030–0.6050 region. On the negative side, near-term support is near the 0.5950 level, and a fall below it could expose the pair to additional weakness towards the 0.5920 area. Momentum indicators are neutral to slightly bearish, indicating limited interest in buying for the time being. FORECAST If the Federal Reserve takes a more dovish tone in its next policy announcement or hints at a possible rate hike pause, the US Dollar would weaken and allow the NZD/USD pair to appreciate. A breakout above the 0.6000 psychological level would also serve as a catalyst for fresh purchasing interest, which could propel the pair towards the 0.6030–0.6050 resistance area. Favorable news on US-China trade relations or positive economic news from New Zealand could also provide the added boost to this upside move. On the other hand, if the Fed remains hawkish and signals keeping interest rates high for a longer duration, the US Dollar might strengthen further, subjecting NZD/USD to fresh pressure. A breach of the 0.5950 support might trigger further losses, with the next significant support around 0.5920. Poor Chinese economic data or a worsening global risk environment could also add to downside threats for the Kiwi.