Australian Dollar dips as US Dollar strengthens on steady Fed outlook
- Australian Dollar loses ground as Employment Change fell to -5.4K in August, against the expected 22K.
- Australia’s Unemployment Rate held steady at 4.2% in August, in line with expectations.
- The US Dollar strengthens as strong inflation projections limit expectations of deeper Fed rate cuts.
The Australian Dollar (AUD) extends its losses against the US Dollar (USD) on Thursday following the release of domestic labor market data. The AUD/USD pair is also under pressure, as the US Dollar (USD) gains support from strong inflation projections that have curbed expectations of more aggressive Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) rate cuts.
Australia’s seasonally adjusted Employment Change arrived at -5.4K in August from 26.5K in July (revised from 24.5K), compared with the consensus forecast of 22K. Meanwhile, the Unemployment Rate steadied at 4.2% in August, as expected.
The United States (US) and China, a key trading partner of Australia, reached a commercial agreement on Monday to transfer TikTok into US ownership. Traders now await further developments, with final approval expected during a Friday call between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Australian Dollar declines as US Dollar edges higher following Fed decision
- The US Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the value of the US Dollar against six major currencies, is gaining ground and trading around 97.10 at the time of writing. Traders will likely observe weekly US Initial Jobless Claims later in the day.
- The Federal Reserve (Fed) lowered the funds rate by 25 basis points (bps), marking the first cut of the year, and signaled a further 50 bps of easing before year-end, slightly above its June projections.
- Fed Chair Jerome Powell pointed to growing signs of weakness in the labor market to explain why officials decided it was time to cut rates after holding them steady since December amid concerns over tariff-driven inflation.
- US Retail Sales increased by 0.6% month-over-month in August, following the 0.6% increase (revised from 0.5%) recorded in July, and came in better than the market expectation of 0.2%. Retail Sales Control Group and Retail Sales ex Autos both rose 0.7%, exceeding the expected 0.4% increase.
- The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Monday that China’s Retail Sales rose 3.4% year-over-year (YoY) in August vs. 3.8% expected and 3.7% in July. Chinese Industrial Production increased 5.2% YoY in the same period, compared to the 5.8% forecast and 5.7% seen previously.
- The NBS said during its press conference on Monday that economic operation was generally steady in August, but domestic demand will expand and promote a rebound in prices. Some firms are having difficulties in operations as the external environment is very severe, NBS added.
- Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Assistant Governor Sarah Hunter said on Tuesday that the central bank is “close to getting inflation to target.” Hunter noted that risks to the outlook are balanced and emphasized the need for a forward-looking approach given the delayed impact of monetary policy. She added that the RBA is closely monitoring the underlying strength of consumer spending and aims to keep the economy near full employment.
- The Aussie Dollar found support on the fading likelihood of further Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) rate cuts. Swaps now price in a 70% likelihood of unchanged policy in September, bolstered by Australia’s strong July trade surplus, solid Q2 GDP, and hotter July inflation. Consumer Inflation Expectations also climbed in September, signaling stronger domestic demand and raising concerns about renewed inflationary pressures.
Australian Dollar slips below 0.6650 after retreating from 11-month highs
AUD/USD is trading around 0.6640 on Thursday. Technical analysis on the daily chart indicates that the pair is trending higher within an ascending channel, reinforcing the bullish outlook. Short-term momentum also remains strong, with the price holding above the nine-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA).
On the upside, the AUD/USD pair may target the psychological level of 0.6700, followed by the 11-month high of 0.6707, recorded on September 17. A break above this level would lead the pair to test the upper boundary of the ascending channel around 0.6720.
The AUD/USD pair may find its initial support at the nine-day EMA of 0.6632, followed by the ascending channel’s lower boundary around 0.6590. A break below the channel would weaken the bullish bias and lead the AUD/USD pair to test the 50-day EMA at 0.6544.
AUD/USD: Daily Chart
Australian Dollar Price Today
The table below shows the percentage change of Australian Dollar (AUD) against listed major currencies today. Australian Dollar was the weakest against the US Dollar.
| USD | EUR | GBP | JPY | CAD | AUD | NZD | CHF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD | 0.20% | 0.34% | 0.24% | 0.15% | 0.47% | 0.94% | 0.23% | |
| EUR | -0.20% | 0.01% | 0.07% | -0.03% | 0.25% | 0.85% | 0.07% | |
| GBP | -0.34% | -0.01% | 0.04% | -0.06% | 0.22% | 0.75% | 0.05% | |
| JPY | -0.24% | -0.07% | -0.04% | -0.09% | 0.16% | 0.68% | 0.03% | |
| CAD | -0.15% | 0.03% | 0.06% | 0.09% | 0.31% | 0.94% | 0.10% | |
| AUD | -0.47% | -0.25% | -0.22% | -0.16% | -0.31% | 0.62% | -0.19% | |
| NZD | -0.94% | -0.85% | -0.75% | -0.68% | -0.94% | -0.62% | -0.68% | |
| CHF | -0.23% | -0.07% | -0.05% | -0.03% | -0.10% | 0.19% | 0.68% |
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).
Australian Dollar FAQs
One of the most significant factors for the Australian Dollar (AUD) is the level of interest rates set by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA). Because Australia is a resource-rich country another key driver is the price of its biggest export, Iron Ore. The health of the Chinese economy, its largest trading partner, is a factor, as well as inflation in Australia, its growth rate and Trade Balance. Market sentiment – whether investors are taking on more risky assets (risk-on) or seeking safe-havens (risk-off) – is also a factor, with risk-on positive for AUD.
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) influences the Australian Dollar (AUD) by setting the level of interest rates that Australian banks can lend to each other. This influences the level of interest rates in the economy as a whole. The main goal of the RBA is to maintain a stable inflation rate of 2-3% by adjusting interest rates up or down. Relatively high interest rates compared to other major central banks support the AUD, and the opposite for relatively low. The RBA can also use quantitative easing and tightening to influence credit conditions, with the former AUD-negative and the latter AUD-positive.
China is Australia’s largest trading partner so the health of the Chinese economy is a major influence on the value of the Australian Dollar (AUD). When the Chinese economy is doing well it purchases more raw materials, goods and services from Australia, lifting demand for the AUD, and pushing up its value. The opposite is the case when the Chinese economy is not growing as fast as expected. Positive or negative surprises in Chinese growth data, therefore, often have a direct impact on the Australian Dollar and its pairs.
Iron Ore is Australia’s largest export, accounting for $118 billion a year according to data from 2021, with China as its primary destination. The price of Iron Ore, therefore, can be a driver of the Australian Dollar. Generally, if the price of Iron Ore rises, AUD also goes up, as aggregate demand for the currency increases. The opposite is the case if the price of Iron Ore falls. Higher Iron Ore prices also tend to result in a greater likelihood of a positive Trade Balance for Australia, which is also positive of the AUD.
The Trade Balance, which is the difference between what a country earns from its exports versus what it pays for its imports, is another factor that can influence the value of the Australian Dollar. If Australia produces highly sought after exports, then its currency will gain in value purely from the surplus demand created from foreign buyers seeking to purchase its exports versus what it spends to purchase imports. Therefore, a positive net Trade Balance strengthens the AUD, with the opposite effect if the Trade Balance is negative.
Author
Akhtar Faruqui
FXStreet
Akhtar Faruqui is a Forex Analyst based in New Delhi, India. With a keen eye for market trends and a passion for dissecting complex financial dynamics, he is dedicated to delivering accurate and insightful Forex news and analysis.
