|

AUD/USD clocks fresh 2-year high on hawkish RBA minutes & US health care debacle

The demise of the US health care bill triggered a wave of selling in the USD, which pushed AUD/USD to a session high of 0.7841 levels (highest since June 2015).  

The hawkish RBA minutes only added fuel to the fire. However, to a certain extent, the minutes are being dwarfed by the health care story, which is moving the FX markets as of now. 

Aussie bond yields drop

The minutes may sound hawkish, although the Aussie bond yields are not impressed. The 10-year yield is down close to two basis points at 2.714%. Meanwhile, its counterpart is relatively strong, down less than one basis point at 2.3%. 

Nevertheless, concerns that Trump would have a hard time pushing through the tax/fiscal reforms are forcing investors to move out of the US dollar. 

AUD/USD Technical Levels

An end of the day close above 0.7831 (23.6% Fib R of 2011 high - 2016 low) would open door for a more sustainable rally towards 0.7938 (Mar 2015 high) and 0.80 (zero levels). On the downside, failure to hold above 0.78 (zero levels) could yield a pullback to 0.7773 (5-DMA) and 0.7740 (July 13 high). 

 TREND INDEXOB/OS INDEXVOLATILY INDEX
15MBullishOverbought High
1HBearishOversold High
4HBearishNeutral Low
1DBearishOverbought High
1WBullishOverbought Expanding

Author

Omkar Godbole

Omkar Godbole

FXStreet Contributor

Omkar Godbole, editor and analyst, joined FXStreet after four years as a research analyst at several Indian brokerage companies.

More from Omkar Godbole
Share:

Editor's Picks

GBP/USD surges to multi-day peaks past 1.3250

GBP/USD leaves behind Friday’s small pullback and advances past 1.3250 level, or five-day highs, on Monday. Cable’s upside follows extra losses in the Greenback, while traders continue to assess the geopolitical front and upcoming key events.

EUR/USD picks up extra pace north of 1.1400

EUR/USD extends its recovery past 1.1400 the figure as the NA session draws to a close on Monday. Indeed, the pair advances for the third straight day amid the persistent offered bias in the US Dollar. Meanwhile, market participants keep gearing up for the ECB Forum in Sintra and the release of critical US labour market data.

Gold struggles to attract investors

Gold remains under marked selling pressure, holding on just above the key $4,000 mark per troy ounce at the beginning of the week. The precious metal reverses two daily advances in a row as renewed effervescence in the Middle East revive inflation concerns and bolster Fed rate hike expectations.

Strategy unveils plan allowing Bitcoin sales to fund stock buybacks, dividends and reserves
Strategy (MSTR) has unveiled a Digital Credit Framework to strengthen the company’s financial standing. Under the new framework, the world’s largest corporate holder of Bitcoin (BTC) will pivot from its previous accumulation strategy, opting to sell BTC in order to boost liquidity, fund dividend payments, execute stock buybacks, and strengthen cash reserves.
Just like Fed, is BoJ’s independence under threat?

When talking about central bank independence, most of the focus has been on Donald Trump’s pressure on the Federal Reserve. But a similar story, a quieter one for now, seems to be happening on the other side of the Pacific: Japan’s government may be testing the Bank of Japan’s independence.

Kevin Warsh isn't expected to say much in Sintra: That's exactly why markets will listen

Financial markets could find an important catalyst in the enchanting, fairytale-like landscape of Sintra this week. The ECB Forum will, as it does every year, gather the crème de la crème of central banks. The new boss at the Fed, who has clearly said that the Fed should stop explaining everything, will need to talk – and traders should listen.