Greenback rallies on ECB interest rate decision

AUD / USD

Expected Range: 0.7550 - 0.7650

Yesterday after the release of the Unemployment data we saw the Aussie fall back from its overnight high of 0.7734 falling to an intraday low of just above 0.7600 cents. The Unemployment rate dropped from 5.7% to 5.6% however the resulting reading in the employment change number of negative 9,800 weighed heavily on the AUD during the local session. There is no local data slated for release today and the AUD will be at the mercy of offshore events and happenings. Against the NZD, the Aussie is currently changing hands at 1.0607 (0.9427) against the and 0.6224 (1.6065) against the Pound.

NZD / USD

Expected Range: 0.7150 - 0.7220

After opening the week at 0.7060 the New Zealand Dollar peaked yesterday morning at 0.7265 against its US counterpart. With a lack of data out of New Zealand yesterday the Kiwi was driven by offshore events with the ECB leaving interest rates on hold and delaying expansion of their Quantitative easing program further. This provided the catalyst for a rally in the US dollar against the majority of major currencies pushing the NZD/USD cross down to a low of 0.7180 where we currently trade on morning open. The Kiwi has fared slightly better against its Trans-Tasman neighbour reaching a high this morning of 0.9460 (1.0570) against the Australian dollar as markets sold off the Aussie with a weaker than expected employment figure. Today we see some lower tier data out today as migration figures and credit card spending is released to the market.

GBP / AUD

Expected Range: 1.6000 - 1.6100

The Great British Pound fell back under 1.23 overnight as Retails Sales were flat for the month of September despite spending is holding up relatively well post EU referendum. Even though we have seen a number of better than expected data from the UK since Brexit happened the large fall a couple of weeks back and also the confusion surrounding the Brexit process is continuing to torment the traders, even the good economic data is not able to give the much-needed push to GBP/USD.  All losses against the AUD have been recouped as the Australian unemployment figures showed a loss of 53k full-time jobs, GBP/AUD currently sitting at 1.6060 and a shade higher against the New Zealand Dollar at 1.7035. Quite on the data front, markets will look for offshore for market movers.  

USD, EUR, JPY

The US Dollar hit a 7 month against the EURO overnight as the European Central Bank elected to keep interest rates on hold and the Quantitative Easing Programme in place. EURUSD fell to a low of 1.0920 as comments from ECB President filtered through indicating that further stimulus measures could considered as early as December and that any tapering in the organisations bond buying programme is not on the table at present. Adding to the US Dollars strength overnight was a better than expected reading in US Existing Homes sales. The Greenback is trading just below 104 versus the Japanese Yen and slightly up against the Pound at 1.2256.