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- USD/CHF gains ahead of Switzerland’s April Consumer Price Index data release scheduled for Tuesday.
- Swiss SVME PMI rose to 54.5 in April, marking a second consecutive month of expansion.
- The US Dollar strengthens on safe-haven demand after Iran’s drone and missile attacks on the UAE.
USD/CHF holds ground for the third consecutive day, trading around 0.7840 during the Asian hours on Tuesday. The Swiss Federal Statistical Office is set to release the April Consumer Price Index (CPI) data later in the day.
On Monday, the Swiss SVME – the Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) climbed to 54.5 in April from 53.3 previously, beating expectations of 52.0. This marked a second straight month of expansion and the strongest reading since October 2022. Sentiment in Swiss manufacturing improved despite ongoing volatility in the Middle East.
The USD/CHF pair appreciates as the US Dollar (USD) advances on increased risk aversion following Iran’s attack on the United Arab Emirates (UAE). CNBC reported Monday that the UAE was targeted by Iranian drones and missiles, while the US said it destroyed Iranian boats in the Strait of Hormuz. US President Donald Trump warned that Iran would be “blown off the face of the earth” if it targets US ships protecting commercial vessels passing through the Strait.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the current situation in the Strait of Hormuz shows “clearly that there is no military solution to a political crisis.” “As talks are progressing with Pakistan’s gracious effort, the US should be cautious about being pulled back into a quagmire by ill-wishers. The same applies to the UAE,” Araghchi wrote in a post on X. “Project Freedom is Project Deadlock,” he added.
The Greenback strengthens as Treasury yields rise alongside expectations that the Federal Reserve (Fed) may need to lift interest rates to curb inflation. Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari said Sunday that additional rate hikes cannot be ruled out, especially as inflation risks remain elevated due to higher energy prices linked to the Iran conflict.
