USD/CHF holds above 0.8400 as traders await Fed’s Powell speech

• USD/CHF holds positive ground near 0.8415 in Monday’s early European session. 
• Rising bets of further jumbo Fed rate cuts and the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East might weigh on the pair. 
• Traders brace for the Fed’s Chair Jerome Powell's speech on Monday. 

The USD/CHF pair recovers to around 0.8415, snapping the two-day losing streak during the early European session on Monday. However, the upside of the pair might be limited amid the bets of more big rate cuts from the US Federal Reserve (Fed). Traders will take more cues from the Fed Chair Jerome Powell and Governor Michelle Bowman later on Monday. 

Slowing Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index inflation data in August has prompted traders to bet the Fed to continue a fast pace of rate cuts as price pressures ease toward its 2% target. This, in turn, is likely to undermine the US Dollar (USD) in the near term. The CME FedWatch Tool showed that markets are pricing in nearly a 54% chance of a half-point cut in November, while the likelihood of a quarter-point cut stands at 46%.

Meanwhile, Israel expanded its attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, raising fears of a regional war, as Hezbollah said it will continue to fight even as it faces growing losses in its senior ranks. Traders will closely watch the development surrounding geopolitical risks. Any signs of escalating tensions in the Middle East could boost the demand for safe-haven flows, benefitting the Swiss Franc (CHF). 

The Swiss National Bank (SNB) decided to lower its borrowing costs last week, bringing its key interest rate down by 25 bps to 1.0%. “I expect another two 25bp moves in December and March at the very least, primarily because I don’t see any near-term sources of depreciation for the franc without a stronger stance on intervention from the SNB. We are heading back towards zero relatively quickly,” said Adrian Prettejohn, Europe economist at Capital Economics. 

Swiss Franc FAQs

What key factors drive the Swiss Franc?

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.

Why is the Swiss Franc considered a safe-haven currency?

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.

How do decisions of the Swiss National Bank impact the Swiss Franc?

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.

How does economic data influence the value of the Swiss Franc?

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.

How does the Eurozone monetary policy affect the Swiss Franc?

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.

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