Australian Dollar declines as US Dollar continues strengthening
- AUD/USD continues its decline, nearing August lows.
- US headline inflation accelerated to 2.6% in October from 2.4% in September, while core CPI grew by 3.3%.
- Australia's October employment data is expected to show a modest increase in jobs added.
The AUD/USD declined by 0.69% to 0.6490 in Wednesday's session. AUD/USD hovers slightly below 0.6500 after the US inflation data for October. The US headline inflation and core CPI showed no surprises, while focus now shifts to Australia's October employment data is expected to show a modest increase in jobs added.
The Australian dollar has declined due to the strength of the US dollar, supported by positive economic indicators and increased confidence. Australia's central bank maintains a neutral stance, signaling a potential rate cut in mid-2025, providing support for the Aussie.
Daily digest market movers: Australian Dollar down ahead employment data, US CPI
- The US headline inflation accelerated to 2.6% in October, while the core CPI grew by 3.3%.
- The inflation report didn’t shake the expectations among investors which continue to bet on another cut in December.
- On the other hand, the RBA is expected to keep interest rates unchanged this year despite rising inflationary pressures.
- Markets do not anticipate a 25 basis point rate cut by the RBA until May 2025.
- Datawise, the Australian economy is projected to have added 25,000 new jobs in October, and the unemployment rate is expected to remain at 4.1%.
- Australian data might shake up the expectations on the timetable of the RBA’s easing cycle.
AUD/USD technical outlook: Pair approaches lows since August, oversold signals loom
The AUD/USD pair has extended its decline below the 0.6500 level, reaching its lowest point since August. This move is supported by technical indicators, which remain deeply in negative territory. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is near 30, indicating oversold conditions, while the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) is below zero, suggesting bearish momentum. These signals suggest that the downtrend may continue in the near term.
Australian Dollar FAQs
One of the most significant factors for the Australian Dollar (AUD) is the level of interest rates set by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA). Because Australia is a resource-rich country another key driver is the price of its biggest export, Iron Ore. The health of the Chinese economy, its largest trading partner, is a factor, as well as inflation in Australia, its growth rate and Trade Balance. Market sentiment – whether investors are taking on more risky assets (risk-on) or seeking safe-havens (risk-off) – is also a factor, with risk-on positive for AUD.
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) influences the Australian Dollar (AUD) by setting the level of interest rates that Australian banks can lend to each other. This influences the level of interest rates in the economy as a whole. The main goal of the RBA is to maintain a stable inflation rate of 2-3% by adjusting interest rates up or down. Relatively high interest rates compared to other major central banks support the AUD, and the opposite for relatively low. The RBA can also use quantitative easing and tightening to influence credit conditions, with the former AUD-negative and the latter AUD-positive.
China is Australia’s largest trading partner so the health of the Chinese economy is a major influence on the value of the Australian Dollar (AUD). When the Chinese economy is doing well it purchases more raw materials, goods and services from Australia, lifting demand for the AUD, and pushing up its value. The opposite is the case when the Chinese economy is not growing as fast as expected. Positive or negative surprises in Chinese growth data, therefore, often have a direct impact on the Australian Dollar and its pairs.
Iron Ore is Australia’s largest export, accounting for $118 billion a year according to data from 2021, with China as its primary destination. The price of Iron Ore, therefore, can be a driver of the Australian Dollar. Generally, if the price of Iron Ore rises, AUD also goes up, as aggregate demand for the currency increases. The opposite is the case if the price of Iron Ore falls. Higher Iron Ore prices also tend to result in a greater likelihood of a positive Trade Balance for Australia, which is also positive of the AUD.
The Trade Balance, which is the difference between what a country earns from its exports versus what it pays for its imports, is another factor that can influence the value of the Australian Dollar. If Australia produces highly sought after exports, then its currency will gain in value purely from the surplus demand created from foreign buyers seeking to purchase its exports versus what it spends to purchase imports. Therefore, a positive net Trade Balance strengthens the AUD, with the opposite effect if the Trade Balance is negative.
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