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Swiss Franc weakens as US Dollar advances on renewing US-Iran tensions

  • USD/CHF rises as the US Dollar gains following US airstrikes on Iran over Strait of Hormuz ship attacks.
  • Iran’s joint military command denounced the attacks on southern Iran as blatant aggression, promising a crushing military response.
  • Switzerland’s 10-year yield edges above 0.34%, tracking higher global borrowing costs as surging oil prices reignite inflation fears.

USD/CHF extends its gains for the third successive day, trading around 0.8090 during the Asian hours on Wednesday. The pair appreciates as the Greenback receives support from safe-haven demand amid renewing geopolitical tensions. US airstrikes against Iran came in response to Iranian attacks on commercial vessels in the crucial Strait of Hormuz, including a Qatari LNG carrier and a Saudi oil tanker.

Reacting to recent US airstrikes, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that the era of bullying and extortion has ended and insisted that Iran will not fold under pressure. Meanwhile, the country’s top joint military command denounced the attacks on southern Iran as blatant aggression, promising a crushing military response. Defiant over the strategic waterway, Tehran reaffirmed that it will block any US interference regarding the control and management of the Strait of Hormuz.

However, the upside of the US Dollar could be restrained due to cooling rate-hike expectations, a shift triggered by last week’s weaker-than-expected Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) data. According to LSEG data, market pricing for total Fed rate increases by December has dropped to roughly 26 basis points, down significantly from the 38 basis points projected just a week ago.

Switzerland’s 10-year government bond yield edged above 0.34%, tracking a global rise in borrowing costs as surging oil prices reignited broader inflation concerns. This uptick comes despite domestic Swiss inflation slowing to 0.5% in June, marking its first decline in eight months and remaining well within the Swiss National Bank’s (SNB) 0–2% target range. The economic backdrop was further supported by the labor market, as Switzerland’s non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 2.9% in June 2026, dropping below the 3.0% seen in the previous two months and beating market forecasts of 3.1%.

Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently urged the SNB to maintain flexibility, advising the central bank to stand ready to either tighten policy or slash interest rates into negative territory should stagflation risks materialize. In response, the Swiss central bank reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to currency market interventions to maintain economic stability.

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New Zealand Dollar rallies to 0.5700 vs USD on expected RBNZ rate hike

  • NZD/USD gains some positive traction after the widely expected RBNZ rate hike.
  • Renewed US-Iran hostilities underpin the safe-haven USD and cap spot prices.
  • Reviving inflation fears further support the buck ahead of the FOMC Minutes.

The NZD/USD pair attracts some buyers in reaction to the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s (RBNZ) anticipated interest rate hike and reclaims the 0.5700 mark during the Asian session on Wednesday. Spot prices, for now, seem to have snapped a two-day losing streak, though the upside potential seems limited amid geopolitical uncertainties.

As was widely expected, the RBNZ decided to raise the Official Cash Rate (OCR) by 25 basis points (bps) to 2.50% following the conclusion of the June monetary policy meeting. The New Zealand Dollar (NZD) bulls, however, seem hesitant and opt to wait for further insight if this is a one-off move rather than the start of further tightening. Hence, the focus will be on the post-meeting press conference, where comments from RBNZ Governor Dr. Anna Breman will influence the NZD and provide a fresh impetus to the NZD/USD pair.

In the meantime, renewed US-Iran hostilities assist the safe-haven US Dollar (USD) to stand firm near the weekly high, which is seen acting as a headwind for the currency pair. The US military unleashed a new wave of strikes against Iran on Tuesday following reports of attacks on three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, jeopardizing the already fragile ceasefire. The US also moved to withdraw a concession that allowed Iran to sell oil on international markets, triggering a sharp rally in Oil prices and reviving inflation fears.

The concerns, in turn, lift market expectations that the Fed will hike interest rates at least once by the end of this year, triggering a fresh leg up in US Treasury bond yields and further underpinning the Greenback. This contributes to capping the upside for the NZD/USD pair. Traders also seem hesitant and keenly await the release of FOMC Minutes before positioning for the next leg of a directional move, warranting caution before positioning for the resumption of the recent recovery from the year-to-date low, touched in June.

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British Pound declines to near 1.3350 as US launches strikes on Iran

  • GBP/USD softens to around 1.3355 in Wednesday’s Asian session.
  • US launched strikes on Iran after tankers hit in Strait of Hormuz.
  • Burnham is widely expected to become Prime Minister by July 20.

The GBP/USD pair loses traction to near 1.3355 during the Asian trading hours on Wednesday. The US Dollar (USD) edges higher against the British Pound (GBP) amid renewed geopolitical tensions after the US renewed strikes on Iran. The Federal Reserve’s (Fed) June meeting minutes will be published later on Wednesday.

Washington unleashed a new wave of strikes against Tehran on Tuesday and revoked a license allowing the country to sell oil after three tankers were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, per Reuters. Geopolitical fears surge following this headline, supporting the Greenback as a safe-haven asset.

Westpac analysts said that concerns for the stability of the peace deal reemerged after Iran attacked ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz. “Concerns over the inflation outlook were in focus, seeing yields jump higher across the globe,” they wrote.

The formal race to replace outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer begins on July 9. Frontrunner Andy Burnham is widely expected to become Prime Minister by July 20. The Cable might receive some support as the UK political landscape stabilizes. Investors are pricing out the domestic risk premium as Burnham anchors his position as the leader-in-waiting to succeed Keir Starmer.

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Dollar Firms Up on Mideast Tensions

The dollar index held above 101 on Wednesday after advancing in the previous session, supported by renewed safe-haven demand as the US military carried out fresh air strikes on Iran following recent attacks on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The latest escalation threatened the interim US-Iran peace deal to end the war and pushed oil prices higher, stoking inflation fears and raising prospects for interest rate hikes. Meanwhile, investors awaited the minutes of the Federal Reserve’s June meeting for additional clues on the policy outlook after the central bank adopted a more hawkish tone at its June policy meeting. Markets are currently pricing in around a 50% chance of a Fed rate increase in September, up from about 46% a day prior. Elsewhere, data on Tuesday showed the US trade deficit widened to $77.6 billion in May, the largest since March 2025.

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Canadian Dollar weakens despite higher oil prices

  • USD/CAD rises as the US Dollar holds gains amid renewed geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.
  • The Greenback’s upside could be restrained as traders price out any Fed rate hike for this month and September.
  • The commodity-linked Canadian Dollar may gain support from higher oil prices.

USD/CAD gains ground for the third successive day, trading around 1.4210 during the European hours on Tuesday. The pair appreciates as the US Dollar (USD) holds ground, which could be attributed to the renewed geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.

However, the upside of the Greenback could be restrained as traders price out any Federal Reserve rate hikes this month and in September. This shift in sentiment followed a cooling employment report that revealed fewer jobs added across April, May, and June than Wall Street had anticipated.

Furthermore, a recent drop in crude oil prices, driven by an OPEC+ production boost and a US-Iran peace deal, has alleviated broader inflationary pressures, softening the urgency for an aggressive Fed policy outlook.

The upside of the USD/CAD pair could be capped as the commodity-linked Canadian Dollar (CAD) gains support from higher oil prices. Although Canada is a major crude exporter, lower oil prices diminish foreign capital inflows, ultimately weighing on the loonie dollar.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil price gains ground after registering modest losses in the previous day, trading around $69.40 per barrel at the time of writing. Crude oil prices received a temporary boost following reports that Iran fired at least two missiles at commercial vessels transiting the strategic waterway late Monday.

While two ships sustained significant damage, no casualties were reported. Separately, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed that a southbound tanker was struck on its port side by an unknown projectile, which ignited a fire on board.

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USD/CHF Price – Resistance at 0.8075 remains in focus as dips find buyers

  • USD/CHF remains bid above 0.8050, with 0.8075 resistance under pressure.
  • The Swiss Franc remains on the back foot after the downbeat Swiss employment report released on Monday.
  • Technically, the pair is in an A-B-C correction, following a 5-wave bullish cycle.

The US Dollar (USD) trades higher for the second consecutive day against the Swiss Franc (CHF). Downdside attempts remain shallow so far, amid a calm market mood, and the immediate trend shows a mild bullish stance, with resistance at the 0.8075 area under pressure.

On the macroeconomic front, data from the Swiss National Bank revealed that Foreign Currency Reserves rose to CHF759 billion in June, from CHF 711 billion in May. 

The Swissie, however, remains weighed by the downbeat employment figures released on Monday, which showed that the Unemployment Rate rose to a five-year high of 3.1%. Later in the day, the US ISM Services Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) met expectations with solid growth in activity, while the S&P Global Services PMI revealed an unexpected slowdown.

Technical Analysis: Looking for direction above 0.8050

Chart Analysis USD/CHF

USD/CHF is in a corrective phase after completing a 5-wave (Elliot Wave) bullish cycle, with momentum indicators showing mixed signals. The daily chart reflects a constructive Relative Strength Index (14), near 58, while the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) has slipped marginally into negative territory.

Bulls need to break resistance around 0.8075 (June 26, 30 lows and July 6 high) to confirm the completion of the corrective phase, and shift focus towards the late June and early July highs, between 0.8120 and 0.8135.

On the downside, a bearish reaction below 0.8045 session lows would add pressure towards Friday’s trading floor at the 0.8010 area. If this level gives way, an A-B=C-D correction would target the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement off the bullish run, just above 0.7900.

Swiss Franc Price This week

The table below shows the percentage change of Swiss Franc (CHF) against listed major currencies this week. Swiss Franc was the strongest against the Japanese Yen.

USDEURGBPJPYCADAUDNZDCHF
USD0.10%-0.23%0.37%0.17%-0.06%0.39%0.43%
EUR-0.10%-0.36%0.26%0.04%-0.13%0.25%0.28%
GBP0.23%0.36%0.50%0.39%0.23%0.61%0.63%
JPY-0.37%-0.26%-0.50%-0.24%-0.32%0.02%0.02%
CAD-0.17%-0.04%-0.39%0.24%-0.10%0.27%0.24%
AUD0.06%0.13%-0.23%0.32%0.10%0.38%0.41%
NZD-0.39%-0.25%-0.61%-0.02%-0.27%-0.38%0.02%
CHF-0.43%-0.28%-0.63%-0.02%-0.24%-0.41%-0.02%

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

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Offshore Yuan Extends Fall

The offshore yuan depreciated to around 6.80 per dollar on Tuesday, extending losses from the previous session and hitting a one-week low as investors weighed the latest outlook for China’s economy. The World Bank projected China’s economic growth to slow to 4.4% in 2026 and 4.3% in 2027, citing a prolonged property market downturn and subdued consumer spending. Meanwhile, the government also set its 2026 GDP growth target at 4.5%–5.0%, the lowest since 1991 and the first downward revision since 2023, after maintaining a target of around 5% over the previous three years. Separately, the PBoC announced measures to strengthen Hong Kong’s role as an offshore yuan hub. These include more than doubling the RMB Business Facility to 500 billion yuan, raising the annual Southbound Bond Connect quota to 800 billion yuan from 500 billion yuan, and pledging support for more yuan-denominated commodity products following the launch of a new gold clearing system in Hong Kong backed by major banks.