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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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