|

AUD/USD surges ahead of Australian jobs data as US Dollar loses footing

  • Aussie holds steady as markets await Australia’s March employment report.
  • USD lacks a clear direction amid mixed yields and the Middle East war.
  • RBA outlook remains cautious, with labor data seen as key for policy expectations.

The AUD/USD surged near the 0.7160 price region on Wednesday, as investors positioned ahead of key Australian labor market data and continued to assess the broader US Dollar (USD) backdrop amid mixed United States (US) macro signals.

The Greenback has struggled to extend gains despite lingering safe-haven demand tied to Middle East tensions, with US yields stabilizing and limiting directional conviction. This has allowed the Australian Dollar (AUD) to hold firm.

Attention now shifts to Australia’s March employment report, due later today. Expectations point to a modest labor market expansion, with the economy projected to add around 20K jobs. The Unemployment Rate is expected to hold steady at 4.3%, while the Participation Rate, at 66.9%, will also be closely watched for signs of labor market resilience.

Chart Analysis AUD/USD

Short-term technical analysis:

In the four-hour chart, AUD/USD trades at 0.7167, holding a bullish near-term bias as price consolidates above both the 20-period Simple Moving Average (SMA) at 0.7102 and the longer-term 100-period SMA at 0.6974. The cluster of nearby horizontal levels at 0.7159, 0.7139, and 0.7133 reinforces underlying demand, though the Relative Strength Index (14), hovering in overbought territory near 73, suggests upside momentum is stretched and vulnerable to a corrective pause.

On the topside, immediate resistance is located at 0.7169, where initial supply is capping further gains for now. On the downside, first support is at 0.7159, with additional layers of demand at 0.7139 and 0.7133; a deeper pullback would bring the 20-period SMA at 0.7102 into view, ahead of the more distant 100-period SMA support near 0.6974.

(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool.)

Author

Agustin Wazne

Agustin Wazne joined FXStreet as a Junior News Editor, focusing on Commodities and covering Majors.

More from Agustin Wazne
Share:

Editor's Picks

AUD/USD weakens to two-week lows near 0.6960

AUD/USD clinches its second consecutive daily pullback as market participants continue to assess the RBA’s rate hike earlier in the day. Indeed, the pair slipped back toward the 0.6960 zone, or multi-day troughs, following the less-hawkish-than-expected message from the RBA after it hiked the OCR by 25 bps, as widely anticipated.

USD/JPY fails near 159.00 amid weak USD, intervention risks

USD/JPY edges lower during Tuesday’s Asian session, reversing part of the previous day's gains to 158.00 as the US Dollar remains depressed amid hopes for Iran diplomacy and ahead of US midterm elections. Meanwhile, intervention risks support the Japanese Yen, though the uncertainty over the timing of the next BoJ rate hike caps gains. This keeps the pair confined within a familiar range and warrants caution before placing directional bets.


Gold struggles near $3,900 as traders assess Middle East developments,US election risks

Gold (XAU/USD) loses momentum on Tuesday as Oil prices rebound after the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported a US strike on Iran’s Qeshm Island. At the time of writing, XAU/USD trades around $3,909, down 0.93% on the day.

Crypto Today: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP under pressure as investors pull capital

Bitcoin trades downward at $76,566 on Tuesday, testing six-week lows. Ethereum, like Bitcoin, trades under pressure as it consolidates within a narrow support range. Meanwhile, Ripple hovers marginally above $1.25.

US Dollar Index edges up within range with midterm elections front and centre

The US Dollar Index is picking up from session lows but remains within previous ranges, below 102.00. The Greenback is drawing support from hostilities in Iran and higher Oil prices, but US political uncertainty is capping gains.

The 2% inflation target came from a throwaway remark. It now moves trillions
The Federal Reserve's 2% inflation goal grew out of an off-the-cuff remark by a New Zealand politician in 1988. Bond investors still price long-term US debt as if 2% holds, so a change in how the Fed measures inflation would move markets.