BNZ Raises Official Cash Rate, NZD Finds Support While Broader Trend Remains Cautious The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) took center stage after raising the Official Cash Rate (OCR) by 25 basis points to 2.50%, up from 2.25% previously. The move signals that the central bank remains committed to controlling inflation, despite signs that price pressures have begun to ease. Higher interest rates generally provide support for a country's currency by increasing the return on assets denominated in that currency. Following the announcement, the New Zealand Dollar (NZD) attracted fresh buying interest as investors viewed the RBNZ's decision as more hawkish than many had anticipated. However, the central bank also emphasized that future policy decisions will remain data-dependent, with inflation, employment and economic growth continuing to guide its next moves. This suggests that while the RBNZ remains vigilant on inflation, it is not committing to an aggressive series of additional rate hikes. From a technical perspective, NZDUSD is currently trading around 0.5702, rebounding from its recent low near 0.5626 recorded earlier this month. Although the pair has staged a short-term recovery, the broader H4 market structure still leans bearish, indicating that medium-term selling pressure has yet to fully reverse. The Relative Strength Index (RSI-14) is currently hovering around 56.6, placing momentum in the neutral-to-bullish zone. This suggests that buyers are gradually regaining control in the short term, although the reading is not yet strong enough to confirm a major trend reversal. Meanwhile, price has moved back above the 9-period Simple Moving Average (SMA 9), indicating that short-term momentum has turned positive following several weeks of weakness. For the week ahead, the 0.5720–0.5750 region will be the key resistance zone to monitor. A sustained breakout above this area could open the door for a move towards 0.5800. On the downside, if buying momentum fades, NZDUSD may retest support around 0.5650, followed by the recent swing low near 0.5625. Overall, the RBNZ's latest policy decision has provided short-term support for the New Zealand dollar. However, unless NZDUSD successfully breaks above its key resistance levels, the broader outlook remains neutral to bearish, and traders should closely monitor whether the post-OCR recovery can gain further momentum. Disclaimer This analysis is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice. All trading involves the risk of capital loss.