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AUD/USD dips on strong US data, market focus on US GDP, PCE reports

  • AUD/USD shows slight losses, impacted by robust US economic data and central bank actions.
  • Positive US S&P Global PMIs fail to bolster the USD, especially the Manufacturing index's leap out of contraction.
  • The week ahead lacks would feature US Q4 GDP, PCE index, Durable Goods Orders, and Jobless Claims.

The Australian Dollar (AUD) registers minuscule losses against the US Dollar (USD) as Thursday’s Asian session begins; on Wednesday, the pair ended the session virtually unchanged, closing below the 0.6600 figure on upbeat US economic data. The AUD/USD trades at 0.6576, testing the 200-day moving average (DMA).

AUD/USD virtually unchanged, awaiting US data

In the North American session, US data painted an optimistic economic outlook after S&P Global PMIs expanded sharply, with the three components standing at expansionary territory. The Composite PMI hit 52.1, up 1.4 pts from December, while Services rose to 52.9 from 51.4. But the spotlight was stolen by Manufacturing PMI, which exited from recessionary territory, hitting 50.3 for the first time in the last four months.

Although it was a positive report, the Greenback (USD) weakened by 0.28% to 103.28, according to the US Dollar Index (DXY). Meanwhile, US Treasury yields recovered towards the end of the session, with the 10-year benchmark note gaining 4.8 basis points, up at 4.18%.

Yesterday, Australia’s economic docket featured the Judo Bank PMIs, which improved more than expected, sponsoring a leg-up in the AUD/USD. Besides that, the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) to cut the reserve requirement ratio (RR) for all banks 50 basis points from February 5, lifted the AUD/USD towards a 0.6621 high before tumbling below the 0.6600 mark.

Ahead on the week, the Aussie’s economic docket is absent. Contrarily, the US economic calendar is busy, featuring 2023 Q4 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures, the release of the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index, Durable Goods Orders, and Initial Jobless Claims.

AUD/USD Daily Chart

AUD/USD Key Technical Levels

AUD/USD

Overview
Today last price0.6575
Today Daily Change-0.0002
Today Daily Change %-0.03
Today daily open0.6577
 
Trends
Daily SMA200.6689
Daily SMA500.6655
Daily SMA1000.6522
Daily SMA2000.658
 
Levels
Previous Daily High0.6612
Previous Daily Low0.6552
Previous Weekly High0.6705
Previous Weekly Low0.6525
Previous Monthly High0.6871
Previous Monthly Low0.6526
Daily Fibonacci 38.2%0.6589
Daily Fibonacci 61.8%0.6575
Daily Pivot Point S10.6548
Daily Pivot Point S20.652
Daily Pivot Point S30.6488
Daily Pivot Point R10.6609
Daily Pivot Point R20.6641
Daily Pivot Point R30.667

Author

Christian Borjon Valencia

Markets analyst, news editor, and trading instructor with over 14 years of experience across FX, commodities, US equity indices, and global macro markets.

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