NZD/USD weakens as Fed policy caution, Iran tensions support US Dollar

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NZD/USD trades lower around 0.5840 on Wednesday at the time of writing, down 0.76% on the day, as markets adopt a wait-and-see stance ahead of the Federal Reserve (Fed) monetary policy decision later in the day.

NZD/USD declines as investors remain cautious ahead of the Fed’s policy decision.
Expected pause in US rates supports the US Dollar in a higher-for-longer environment.
Iran-related tensions and Hormuz Strait risks weigh on sentiment and limit Kiwi upside.

The NZD/USD pair remains under pressure as investors widely expect the Fed to keep interest rates unchanged within the 3.5%-3.75% range, marking a fourth consecutive hold. Focus now shifts to Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s press conference, which could offer clues on the future policy path, particularly as inflation continues to run above the 2% target.

A hawkish tone from the Federal Reserve (Fed), emphasizing persistent inflation risks, could support the US Dollar (USD) and add further downside pressure on NZD/USD in the near term. Conversely, any hints that policymakers remain open to rate cuts later this year might cap the Greenback’s strength, although it may not be enough to reverse the broader trend amid prevailing uncertainty.

On the political front, a potential leadership transition at the Fed is also drawing attention after Kevin Warsh was confirmed by the US Senate Banking Committee. He still needs full Senate approval to succeed Jerome Powell, whose term ends in May, adding another layer of uncertainty for markets.

Meanwhile, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East continue to weigh on market sentiment. Comments from US President Donald Trump regarding Iran and the potential extension of the Strait of Hormuz blockade are fueling concerns over global energy supply. The resulting rise in Oil prices is reinforcing inflationary pressures and supporting expectations of a prolonged higher-rate environment.

In this context, safe-haven demand for the US Dollar (USD) remains firm, putting pressure on risk-sensitive currencies such as the New Zealand Dollar (NZD). While any signs of easing tensions between the US and Iran could temporarily improve risk appetite, persistent uncertainty is likely to limit any meaningful recovery in the Kiwi in the near term.

US Dollar Price Today

The table below shows the percentage change of US Dollar (USD) against listed major currencies today. US Dollar was the strongest against the New Zealand Dollar.

	USD	EUR	GBP	JPY	CAD	AUD	NZD	CHF
USD		0.15%	0.20%	0.38%	-0.00%	0.69%	0.78%	0.09%
EUR	-0.15%		0.04%	0.24%	-0.16%	0.53%	0.65%	-0.07%
GBP	-0.20%	-0.04%		0.19%	-0.21%	0.47%	0.59%	-0.11%
JPY	-0.38%	-0.24%	-0.19%		-0.40%	0.31%	0.42%	-0.25%
CAD	0.00%	0.16%	0.21%	0.40%		0.71%	0.80%	0.10%
AUD	-0.69%	-0.53%	-0.47%	-0.31%	-0.71%		0.11%	-0.63%
NZD	-0.78%	-0.65%	-0.59%	-0.42%	-0.80%	-0.11%		-0.71%
CHF	-0.09%	0.07%	0.11%	0.25%	-0.10%	0.63%	0.71%

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 US Dollar from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the Japanese Yen, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent USD (base)/JPY (quote).