New Zealand Dollar eases from three-week highs near 0.5800 as the US Dollar bounces up

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The New Zealand Dollar (NZD) is giving away gains against the US Dollar (USD) on Friday, trading at the 0.5775 area after hitting fresh three-week highs at 0.5794 earlier on the day.

NZD/USD eases to 0.5775 after hitting three-week highs at 0.5794.
The Kiwi is on track for a 1% weekly appreciation after the RBNZ's hawkish hike.
The US Dollar has trimmed some losses as markets look for clarity on the US-Iran conflict's developments.

The New Zealand Dollar (NZD) is giving away gains against the US Dollar (USD) on Friday, trading at the 0.5775 area after hitting fresh three-week highs at 0.5794 earlier on the day. The pair, however, is on track for a 1% weekly appreciation, boosted by a hawkish hike by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) earlier this week.

The US Dollar trims losses in a calm Friday European trading session as investors ponder rumours about diplomatic efforts by mediators to bring the US and Iran back to the negotiating table. Rival countries halted their hostilities on Friday after a series of tit-for-tat attacks earlier on the week, although the key Strait of Hormuz remains practically closed, which is keeping investors’ appetite for risk subdued.

Earlier on the week, the RBNZ hiked its Official Cash Rate (OCR) by 25 basis points to 2.5% and hinted at further monetary tightening in the coming months, to bring inflation to the 2% target. Investors are now pricing two further rate hikes this year, which has boosted the New Zealand Dollar across the board this week.

In the US, the minutes of the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) latest monetary policy meeting failed to support the US Dollar. The Fed maintained its commitment to bring inflation to target, but rate projections showed a split committee, which left investors pondering the timing for the next interest rate hike.

Central banks FAQs

What does a central bank do?

Central Banks have a key mandate which is making sure that there is price stability in a country or region. Economies are constantly facing inflation or deflation when prices for certain goods and services are fluctuating. Constant rising prices for the same goods means inflation, constant lowered prices for the same goods means deflation. It is the task of the central bank to keep the demand in line by tweaking its policy rate. For the biggest central banks like the US Federal Reserve (Fed), the European Central Bank (ECB) or the Bank of England (BoE), the mandate is to keep inflation close to 2%.

What does a central bank do when inflation undershoots or overshoots its projected target?

A central bank has one important tool at its disposal to get inflation higher or lower, and that is by tweaking its benchmark policy rate, commonly known as interest rate. On pre-communicated moments, the central bank will issue a statement with its policy rate and provide additional reasoning on why it is either remaining or changing (cutting or hiking) it. Local banks will adjust their savings and lending rates accordingly, which in turn will make it either harder or easier for people to earn on their savings or for companies to take out loans and make investments in their businesses. When the central bank hikes interest rates substantially, this is called monetary tightening. When it is cutting its benchmark rate, it is called monetary easing.

Who decides on monetary policy and interest rates?

A central bank is often politically independent. Members of the central bank policy board are passing through a series of panels and hearings before being appointed to a policy board seat. Each member in that board often has a certain conviction on how the central bank should control inflation and the subsequent monetary policy. Members that want a very loose monetary policy, with low rates and cheap lending, to boost the economy substantially while being content to see inflation slightly above 2%, are called ‘doves’. Members that rather want to see higher rates to reward savings and want to keep a lit on inflation at all time are called ‘hawks’ and will not rest until inflation is at or just below 2%.

Is there a president or head of a central bank?

Normally, there is a chairman or president who leads each meeting, needs to create a consensus between the hawks or doves and has his or her final say when it would come down to a vote split to avoid a 50-50 tie on whether the current policy should be adjusted. The chairman will deliver speeches which often can be followed live, where the current monetary stance and outlook is being communicated. A central bank will try to push forward its monetary policy without triggering violent swings in rates, equities, or its currency. All members of the central bank will channel their stance toward the markets in advance of a policy meeting event. A few days before a policy meeting takes place until the new policy has been communicated, members are forbidden to talk publicly. This is called the blackout period.