The New Zealand dollar edged down to $0.577 on Wednesday, slowly drifting away from a two-month peak, after RBNZ Governor Anna Breman reiterated that the cash rate is expected to stay at current levels through next year. This came after Breman on Monday noted that financial conditions have tightened beyond expectations and that rates are likely to stay on hold for some time if economic conditions develop as anticipated. Her earlier statements prompted investors to scale back expectations for rate hikes in 2026. Currently, market pricing suggests rates will remain unchanged until the second half of next year, with a 50% probability of a move by July and a 90% chance by September. Investors now await the third-quarter GDP data due on Thursday, with the economy projected to grow by 0.9% after contracting by 0.9% in the second quarter. The kiwi also fell due to a rise in the US dollar after a mixed jobs report left the timing of the Federal Reserve’s next rate cut uncertain.