Home Daily Commentaries Aussie slides on prospect of US rate hike

Aussie slides on prospect of US rate hike

Daily Currency Update

The AUD is lower this morning having given up a quarter percent amid higher US treasury yields and a hawkish Federal Reserve. Domestic employment data did little to move the AUD with unemployment rate edging higher, up to 3.8%, yet holding onto most of the decline seen in February when the rate fell from 4.1% to 3.7%. If we exclude January as a seasonal outlier the unemployment rate has tracked below 4% through the last two years, suggesting there is resilience within the labour force despite signs employment growth is stalling. This latest print does little to alter market expectations for RBA monetary policy and we are still looking toward a possible cut in Q4. Having tracked between US$0.6440 and US$0.6450, the AUD then fell through overnight trade amid the prospect of a potential US rate hike. Fed policy makers made clear that if inflation remained sticky and the data indicated a rate hike was needed to bring inflation back to target then that is what they would do. Having slipped below US$0.6420 the AUD tracked sideways into this morning’s open and currently trades at US$0.6419. With no domestic data on hand to drive direction we look to Japan CPI and UK retails sales as the only items of note on the macroeconomic calendar. US yields will continue to determine direction and we anticipate the AUD will remain on the back foot next week.

Key Movers

The US dollar is stronger this morning having reversed losses suffered through trade on Wednesday amid hawkish Fed commentary and a general risk-off tone. Yields pushed higher after NY Fed President and FOMC member Williams suggested another rate hike was not out of the question, stating “monetary policy is in a good place, I am in no hurry to cut interest rates and if the data are telling us that we need higher interest rates to bring inflation back to target then we obviously want to do that”. With USD again on the front foot, the euro slid back below 1.0650, while sterling gave up 1.2450 and the yen again gave up 154.50 and appears poised to break through 155. US treasury Secretary Yellen and the Finance Ministers of Japan and Korea met to discuss the recent and sharp depreciation of the yen and the won, offering a joint statement acknowledging the US would not stand in the way of any official currency intervention. Upon release of the statement the yen tracked higher, but Treasury yields carried the day and the USD recovered losses and is back near 154.70 on open this morning.

Our attentions turn now to Japanese CPI data and UK retail sales data as the only tier one data headlining an otherwise quiet macroeconomic calendar.

Expected Ranges

  • AUD/USD: 0.6380 - 0.6500 ▼
  • AUD/EUR: 0.6000 - 0.6100 ▼
  • GBP/AUD: 1.9250 - 1.9500 ▲
  • AUD/NZD: 1.0820 - 1.0920 ▼
  • AUD/CAD: 0.8800 - 0.8900 ▼

Written by

Matt Richardson

OFXpert

As a Senior Corporate Client Manager, Matt provides expertise in currency risk management to his clients, drawing from his 14 years of experience in foreign exchange. Matt has clients who he has been working with for over a decade, a testament to his knowledge and dedication in the field. Matt is also a regular contributor on Ausbiz, offering clear and precise updates on currency market trends, showcasing his ability to interpret complex financial data into actionable insights.