Created
: 2025.05.23
2025.05.23 20:17
The NZD/USD pair surges almost 1% to near 0.5960 during European trading hours on Friday. The Kiwi pair soars as the New Zealand Dollar (NZD) outperforms its peers on stronger-than-projected New Zealand (NZ) Q1 Retail Sales data.
The table below shows the percentage change of New Zealand Dollar (NZD) against listed major currencies today. New Zealand Dollar was the strongest against the US Dollar.
USD | EUR | GBP | JPY | CAD | AUD | NZD | CHF | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
USD | -0.54% | -0.55% | -0.40% | -0.29% | -0.78% | -0.96% | -0.29% | |
EUR | 0.54% | -0.01% | 0.15% | 0.26% | -0.24% | -0.40% | 0.27% | |
GBP | 0.55% | 0.00% | 0.15% | 0.27% | -0.20% | -0.39% | 0.28% | |
JPY | 0.40% | -0.15% | -0.15% | 0.14% | -0.37% | -0.54% | 0.14% | |
CAD | 0.29% | -0.26% | -0.27% | -0.14% | -0.52% | -0.66% | 0.00% | |
AUD | 0.78% | 0.24% | 0.20% | 0.37% | 0.52% | -0.16% | 0.52% | |
NZD | 0.96% | 0.40% | 0.39% | 0.54% | 0.66% | 0.16% | 0.67% | |
CHF | 0.29% | -0.27% | -0.28% | -0.14% | -0.01% | -0.52% | -0.67% |
The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the New Zealand Dollar from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the US Dollar, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent NZD (base)/USD (quote).
Stats NZ reported that Retail Sales, a key measure of consumer spending, rose by 0.8%, faster than expectations of 0.1%, but slower than the 1% growth seen in the last quarter of 2024. Theoretically, strong Retail Sales data discourages the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) from lowering interest rates further. However, the RBNZ is expected to lower its Official Cash Rate (OCR) by 25 basis points (bps) to 3.25% in the policy meeting next week amid heightened growth concerns.
"Another 25bp rate cut by the RBNZ on May 28 seems likely. Markets are fully pricing it in, following the RBNZ's previous indications that growth remains a major concern," FX analysts at ING said last week.
Another reason behind the strength in the antipodean is increasing hopes of strong business from China in the near term. On Thursday, Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Deputy Governor Andrew Hauser stated that Australian exporters are "upbeat about the resilience of China demand". Given that the NZ economy is one of the leading trading partners of Beijing, signs of strong demand from the Asian giant strengthen the Kiwi dollar.
Meanwhile, a substantial weakness in the US Dollar (USD) on the back of growing United States (US) fiscal concerns has also strengthened the Kiwi pair. Investors have become worried over the US fiscal health due to a new bill by President Donald Trump, which comprises tax cuts and higher spending on defense and border enforcement. The new bill is expected to increase the national debt by $3.8 billion over a decade.
The US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the Greenback's value against six major currencies, slumps to near the two-week low around 99.30.
Created
: 2025.05.23
Last updated
: 2025.05.23
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.
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].
Disclaimer:
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.
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