- NZD/USD ignores China’s downbeat Caixin Services PMI for February.
- NZ data also eased earlier in the day after bulls cheered weaker USD, NZ GDT figures on Tuesday.
- Sluggish market sentiment ahead of the key data/events probe traders.
NZD/USD stays unaffected during its three-day upbeat, currently around 0.7300, following China’s weaker-than-expected data amid Wednesday’s Asian session. The reason could be traced from mixed risk catalysts and downbeat NZ data, published earlier in the day.
China’s Caixin Services PMI eases from 52.0 to 51.5 during February. In doing so, the Chinese activity numbers mark sustained weakness for the previous month as not only the private survey data but official figures are also weak.
Elsewhere, New Zealand Building Permits for January eased from upwardly revised 5.9% to 2.1% whereas February’s ANZ Commodity Price Index dropped below 3.6% prior to 3.3% earlier in Asia.
It’s worth mentioning that New Zealand’s GDT Price Index rose to the highest since September 2015 while flashing a 15.0% mark in its latest reading versus 3.0% prior on Tuesday. Further details suggest the average prices of the Whole Milk Powder (WMP) rose to the seven-year top of USD4,364/MT on Tuesday.
Talking about risks US President Joe Biden’s vaccine optimism joins hopes of an easy budget from the UK and hopes of a rate cut from the Chinese central bank to favor the bulls. However, cautious sentiment ahead of speech from Fed Chair Powell, US employment figures and the UK budget, not to forget US stimulus updates, keep the risks sluggish.
Amid these plays, S&P 500 Futures seesaw around 3,870, up 0.20% intraday whereas the US 10-year Treasury yields look for fresh clues to overcome the 1.41% level.
Moving on, a light calendar ahead of the US ISM Services PMI and ADP Employment Change can keep disappointing the momentum traders. However, risk catalysts may play their roles.
Technical analysis
Sellers are less likely to enter unless witnessing a daily closing below an ascending trend line from December 21, currently around 0.7195. As a result, bulls are up for challenging the area surrounding highs marked in January and touched twice last month, around 0.7320.
Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.
If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.
FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.
The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.
Recommended content
Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD extends recovery beyond 1.0400 amid Wall Street's turnaround
EUR/USD extends its recovery beyond 1.0400, helped by the better performance of Wall Street and softer-than-anticipated United States PCE inflation. Profit-taking ahead of the winter holidays also takes its toll.
GBP/USD nears 1.2600 on renewed USD weakness
GBP/USD extends its rebound from multi-month lows and approaches 1.2600. The US Dollar stays on the back foot after softer-than-expected PCE inflation data, helping the pair edge higher. Nevertheless, GBP/USD remains on track to end the week in negative territory.
Gold rises above $2,620 as US yields edge lower
Gold extends its daily rebound and trades above $2,620 on Friday. The benchmark 10-year US Treasury bond yield declines toward 4.5% following the PCE inflation data for November, helping XAU/USD stretch higher in the American session.
Bitcoin crashes to $96,000, altcoins bleed: Top trades for sidelined buyers
Bitcoin (BTC) slipped under the $100,000 milestone and touched the $96,000 level briefly on Friday, a sharp decline that has also hit hard prices of other altcoins and particularly meme coins.
Bank of England stays on hold, but a dovish front is building
Bank of England rates were maintained at 4.75% today, in line with expectations. However, the 6-3 vote split sent a moderately dovish signal to markets, prompting some dovish repricing and a weaker pound. We remain more dovish than market pricing for 2025.
Best Forex Brokers with Low Spreads
VERIFIED Low spreads are crucial for reducing trading costs. Explore top Forex brokers offering competitive spreads and high leverage. Compare options for EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY, and Gold.