|

AUD/USD rises modestly on trade optimism as eyes turn to PMI, US inflation

  • AUD/USD rises modestly on Wednesday as market sentiment improves
  • Optimism over US-China trade talks supports risk assets
  • Traders await Australia’s PMI data on Thursday and US inflation on Friday

AUD/USD trades slightly higher around 0.6500 on Wednesday at the time of writing, up about 0.10% for the day. The pair benefits from a renewed risk-on mood, as investors welcome more constructive signals on the trade front between the United States (US) and China. In this context, the Australian Dollar (AUD) is outperforming slightly, while the US Dollar (USD) remains more hesitant.

Risk-sensitive flows have strengthened ahead of a new round of discussions between policymakers from Washington and Beijing, seen as an opportunity to ease tensions over tariffs, export controls, and technology sharing. In the background, the recently signed bilateral agreement on critical minerals between the United States and Australia is viewed as a further step toward securing supply chains, a structurally positive factor for an Australian economy highly dependent on commodities.

On the data front, the pair remains sensitive to upcoming releases. In Australia, Thursday’s preliminary Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) figures will provide a snapshot of early-quarter activity momentum and may influence expectations regarding the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA). In the United States, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for September, due Friday, remains the week’s key event for markets, with potential implications for the Federal Reserve (Fed) and, consequently, for the US Dollar (USD).

Australian Dollar Price Today

The table below shows the percentage change of Australian Dollar (AUD) against listed major currencies today. Australian Dollar was the strongest against the British Pound.

USDEURGBPJPYCADAUDNZDCHF
USD-0.13%0.02%-0.09%-0.29%-0.19%-0.19%-0.12%
EUR0.13%0.13%0.07%-0.16%-0.06%-0.04%0.00%
GBP-0.02%-0.13%-0.08%-0.29%-0.20%-0.17%-0.13%
JPY0.09%-0.07%0.08%-0.21%-0.11%-0.08%-0.03%
CAD0.29%0.16%0.29%0.21%0.09%0.12%0.16%
AUD0.19%0.06%0.20%0.11%-0.09%0.03%0.07%
NZD0.19%0.04%0.17%0.08%-0.12%-0.03%0.04%
CHF0.12%-0.00%0.13%0.03%-0.16%-0.07%-0.04%

The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the Australian Dollar from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the US Dollar, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent AUD (base)/USD (quote).

Author

Ghiles Guezout

Ghiles Guezout is a Market Analyst with a strong background in stock market investments, trading, and cryptocurrencies. He combines fundamental and technical analysis skills to identify market opportunities.

More from Ghiles Guezout
Share:

Editor's Picks

GBP/USD holds recovery gains near 1.3400 despite soft UK CPI data

GBP/USD clings to recovery gains near 1.3400 in European trading on Wednesday. The UK annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation cooled to 2.6% in June against the market forecast of 2.7%, failing to deter the British Pound's rebound from weekly troughs. However, the pair's further upside could be limited by ongoing Mideast tensions and sustained US Dollar demand as a haven.

EUR/USD gains ground above 1.1400 on hawkish ECB tone

The EUR/USD pair holds positive ground near 1.1410 during the early European trading hours, bolstered by a hawkish tone from the European Central Bank. However, the potential upside for the major pair might be limited amid escalating military tensions and recent retaliatory airstrikes between the US and Iran.

Gold: Strong recovery might face roadblock as oil price extends gains

Gold price extends its winning streak for the third trading day on Wednesday, trading 1.5% higher to near $4,140 during the Asian session. The precious metal recovered strongly in the past few trading days from its three-week low of $3,959.80 as traders scaled back Federal Reserve’s interest rate hike expectations for the monetary policy meeting next week.

Bitcoin holds firm as ONDO and GRAM lead rally

The broader cryptocurrency market is witnessing an easing of bearish momentum, with Bitcoin holding above $66,000 on Wednesday. Altcoins including Ondo and Gram, formerly known as Toncoin, are leading gains over the last 24 hours, driven by new features. Bitcoin holds above $66,000 on Wednesday, following a 2% surge the previous day.

Hyperliquid hits a make-or-break zone amid easing demand

Hyperliquid (HYPE) hovers around $60 capped below its 50-day Exponential Moving Average at $62.70. The everything exchange token is losing its retail demand as funding rates fluctuate near zero amid elevated long liquidations.

US Dollar mid-year outlook: Exceptional currency, exceptional risks?
The US Dollar enters the second half of 2026 in a markedly different position from a year ago. The King currency has recovered, reflecting persistent US inflation, changing expectations for Fed policy, geopolitical tensions and renewed demand for defensive assets.