AUD/USD to mostly trade with a 0.77 handle – Westpac

Sandeep Kanihama FXStreet Contributor

The soft US dollar tone post-FOMC has provided AUD/USD with a boost it surely needed, according to Sean Callow, Research Analyst at Westpac.

Key Quotes

“Ahead of the Fed headlines, the pair was trading fresh 3 month lows around 0.7675. Australia’s key commodity prices extended their poor run, with our measure of Australia’s commodity basket down 4.3% so far this month, to lows since late November.”

“At that time, AUD/USD was around 0.7625, yet yield differentials have move further against the Aussie, leaving short term fair value below 0.75. US-led trade tensions continue, with the G20 forced to again leave out of its statement its previous commitment against protectionism due to the US stance. And Trump’s anti-China trade steps will extend the battle.”

“On the positive side, Australian job creation keeps barrelling along. And near term, a softer US$ tone is probably enough for AUD/USD to mostly trade with a 0.77 handle.”

Author

Sandeep Kanihama

FXStreet Contributor

Sandeep Kanihama is an FX Editor and Analyst with FXstreet having principally focus area on Asia and European markets with commodity, currency and equities coverage. He is stationed in the Indian capital city of Delhi.

EUR/USD off highs, back to 1.1850

EUR/USD loses some upside momentum, returning to the 1.1850 region amid humble losses. The pair’s slight decline comes against the backdrop of a marginal advance in the US Dollar as investors continue to assess the latest US CPI readings.

GBP/USD advances to daily tops around 1.3650

GBP/USD now manages to pick up extra pace, clinching daily highs around 1.3650 and leaving behind three consecutive daily pullbacks on Friday. Cable’s improved sentiment comes on the back of the inconclusive price action of the Greenback, while recent hawkish comments from the BoE’s Pill also collaborates with the uptick.

Gold surpasses $5,000/oz, daily highs

Gold is reclaiming part of the ground lost on Wednesday’s marked decline, as bargain-hunters keep piling up and lifting prices past the key $5,000 per troy ounce. The yellow metal’s upside is also propped up by the lack of clear direction around the US Dollar post-US CPI release.

Crypto Today: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP in choppy price action, weighed down by falling institutional interest

Bitcoin's upside remains largely constrained amid weak technicals and declining institutional interest. Ethereum trades sideways above $1,900 support with the upside capped below $2,000 amid ETF outflows.

Week ahead – Data blitz, Fed Minutes and RBNZ decision in the spotlight

US GDP and PCE inflation are main highlights, plus the Fed minutes. UK and Japan have busy calendars too with focus on CPI. Flash PMIs for February will also be doing the rounds. RBNZ meets, is unlikely to follow RBA’s hawkish path.

Ripple Price Forecast: XRP potential bottom could be in sight

Ripple edges up above the intraday low of $1.35 at the time of writing on Friday amid mixed price actions across the crypto market. The remittance token failed to hold support at $1.40 the previous day, reflecting risk-off sentiment amid a decline in retail and institutional sentiment.