• NZD/USD falls sharply below 0.6150 as investors rush for safe-haven currencies.
• The US Dollar gains sharply as investors see the Fed opting for a 25-bps interest rate cut this month.
• A sharp deflation in China’s PPI weighs on the New Zealand Dollar.

The NZD/USD pair tumbles below 0.6150 in Monday’s European session. The Kiwi asset weakens as the US Dollar (USD) gains strength on expectations that the Federal Reserve (Fed) will start the policy-easing process this month gradually.

The US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the Greenback’s value against six major currencies, surges above 101.50. Meanwhile, the market sentiment appears to be asset-specific as risk-sensitive currencies have faced selling pressure, while the appeal of American equities has improved. S&P 500 futures have posted significant gains in the European trading hours, exhibiting a strong risk appetite of investors.

Earlier, market participants remained worried that the Fed could opt for a large interest rate cut in September amid a sharp slowdown in the United States (US) job growth, indicated by the US Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) report for July, which prompted fears of a recession. However, Friday’s NFP report showed that the labor market health is not as bad as it appeared last month.