Select Language

USD/CHF softens below 0.9050 as traders await FOMC Minutes

Breaking news

USD/CHF softens below 0.9050 as traders await FOMC Minutes

  • X
  • facebook
  • LINE
  • RSS

  • X
  • facebook
  • LINE
  • RSS
New update 2025.02.19 14:46
USD/CHF softens below 0.9050 as traders await FOMC Minutes

update 2025.02.19 14:46

  • USD/CHF weakens to around 0.9030 in Wednesday's early European. 
  • Global geopolitical stress boosts the safe-haven flows, supporting the CHF. 
  • Fed's Daly said the central bank should keep short-term borrowing costs where they are until the progress is more visible.

The USD/CHF pair softens to near 0.9030 during the early European session on Wednesday. Tension-filled negotiations on the Russia-Ukraine conflict boost the safe-haven flows, benefiting the Swiss Franc (CHF). Traders will take more cues from the FOMC Minutes, which will be published later on Wednesday. 

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said no peace deal could be made behind his back, per Reuters. Zelenskiy decided to postpone his visit to Saudi Arabia planned for Wednesday until March 10 to avoid giving "legitimacy" to the United States-Russia meetings. Investors will closely watch the developments surrounding the Russia-Ukraine peace talks. Any signs of escalating tensions between the two countries could boost the safe-haven currency like the CHF and create a headwind for the pair. 

Data released by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on Tuesday showed that the NY Empire State Manufacturing Index climbed to 5.7 in February from a fall of 12.6 in January. Meanwhile, San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly said on Tuesday that prospects of further rate cuts in 2025 remain uncertain despite an overall positive lean to US economic factors. 

Market players brace for remarks by Fed officials later this week to gather more clues about the path ahead for US interest rates. Any hawkish comments from Fed policymakers could underpin the Greenback against the CHF in the near term.

Swiss Franc FAQs

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

 


Date

Created

 : 2025.02.19

Update

Last updated

 : 2025.02.19

Related articles


Show more

FXStreet

Financial media

arrow
FXStreet

FXStreet is a forex information website, delivering market analysis and news articles 24/7.
It features a number of articles contributed by well-known analysts, in addition to the ones by its editorial team.
Founded in 2000 by Francesc Riverola, a Spanish economist, it has grown to become a world-renowned information website.

Was this article helpful?

We hope you find this article useful. Any comments or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.  
We are also looking for writers with extensive experience in forex and crypto to join us.

please contact us at [email protected].

Thank you for your feedback.
Thank you for your feedback.

Most viewed

Fed's Kugler: Central bank should hold policy rate in place for some time

Federal Reserve Board Governor Adriana Kugler said late Thursday that US inflation still has "some way to go" to reach the central bank's 2% target and that its path toward that goal continues to be bumpy, per Reuters.
New
update2025.02.21 08:12

RBA's Bullock: Board remains cautious about prospects for further policy easing

Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Michele Bullock said late Thursday that the central projection suggests that if monetary policy is eased too quickly or by too much, disinflation could stall and inflation would settle above the midpoint.
New
update2025.02.21 07:59

Australia's Judo Bank Manufacturing PMI rises to 50.6 in February, Services PMI improves to 51.4

The preliminary reading of Australia's Judo Bank Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) rose to 50.6 in February from 50.2 in January, the latest data published by Judo Bank and S&P Global showed on Friday.
New
update2025.02.21 07:40

Gold price extended gains on trade war fears, soft US Dollar

Gold's price advanced late in the North American session yet traded off record highs of $2,954 as traders took profits.
New
update2025.02.21 06:57

NZD/USD Price Analysis: Bulls surge to back to highs since January, eyeing 100-day SMA retest

The NZD/USD pair staged an impressive rally on Thursday, climbing 1.03% to close at 0.5765, marking its highest point since January.
New
update2025.02.21 06:42

US Dollar weakens asTrump hints at possible China trade deal, weak labor data

The US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the US Dollar's (USD) performance against six major currencies, extends its decline on Thursday, slipping near 106.30.
New
update2025.02.21 05:47

Canadian Dollar strengthens after hot PPI figures

The Canadian Dollar appreciated against the Greenback on Thursday.
New
update2025.02.21 04:32

Forex Today: It's PMIs day!

The US Dollar came under renewed and significant selling pressure, retreating to two-month lows even though the US tariff narrative remained unchanged and the Russia-Ukraine peace talks showed no signs of improvement.
New
update2025.02.21 04:06

Dow Jones Industrial Average slides as markets digest mixed economic data and Fed remarks

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), which measures the performance of 30 large-cap US stocks, fell sharply on Thursday, dropping more than 1.40% to 43,980.
New
update2025.02.21 03:38

Mexican Peso rebounds as Retail Sales beat forecasts, Banxico stays dovish

The Mexican Peso staged a comeback, rising over 0.23% against the Greenback.
New
update2025.02.21 02:54

Disclaimer:arw

All information and content provided on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to solicit any investment. Although all efforts are made in order to ensure that the information is correct, no guarantee is provided for the accuracy of any content on this website. Any decision made shall be the responsibility of the investor and Myforex does not take any responsibility whatsoever regarding the use of any information provided herein.

The content provided on this website belongs to Myforex and, where stated, the relevant licensors. All rights are reserved by Myforex and the relevant licensors, and no content of this website, whether in full or in part, shall be copied or displayed elsewhere without the explicit written permission of the relevant copyright holder. If you wish to use any part of the content provided on this website, please ensure that you contact Myforex.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LINE

Myforex uses cookies to improve the convenience and functionality of this website. This website may include cookies not only by us but also by third parties (advertisers, log analysts, etc.) for the purpose of tracking the activities of users. Cookie policy

I agree
share
Share
Cancel