|

Australian Dollar muted after higher-than-expected US PPI reading

  • US Producer Price Index spikes 6.0% YoY, pushing the USD higher.
  • Trump said on Tuesday that Iran will either “make a good deal” with the US or face devastation.
  • IEA claims Oil inventories are falling faster than expected as the Strait of Hormuz disruption continues.

The AUD/USD pair is trading at a neutral basis near the 0.7250 level after the US Producer Price Index (PPI) for April came in unexpectedly hot.

Separately, United States (US) President Donald Trump threatened Iran ahead of a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Trump claimed that Iran will either “make a good deal” with the US or face devastation. The war on Iran, which has sent energy prices soaring because of Tehran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, will be high on the agenda of the talks between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The PPI for April came in well above economists' expectations at 6.0% YoY. Consensus had been 4.9%. This higher reading gave the Greenback some resilience.

Core PPI, which excludes food and fuel, likewise arrived above the consensus of 4.3% at 5.2% YoY and rose 1% MoM.

Oil inventories are falling around the world at a record pace and will continue to drop for months as the disruption to Middle East supplies from the Iran war intensifies, according to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Global observed Oil inventories declined by about 4 million barrels per day in March and April, according to a monthly report from the agency, which is coordinating the release of emergency fuel stocks by major economies such as the US, Japan and Germany. The market will remain “severely undersupplied” until October, even if the conflict ends next month, the IEA said.

Chart Analysis AUD/USD

Short-term technical analysis:

On the 4-hour chart, AUD/USD trades at 0.7241, holding a mildly bullish near-term bias as it stays above the 20-period Simple Moving Average (SMA) at 0.7238 and the 100-period SMA near 0.7191. The cluster of nearby supports suggests dips could be contained for now, while the Relative Strength Index (RSI) hovering around 55 hints at steady, but not overstretched, upside momentum.

On the topside, initial resistance appears at 0.7243, ahead of a more notable barrier around 0.7254, where recent supply has emerged. On the downside, the 20-period SMA at 0.7238 forms the first support, followed by horizontal floors at 0.7235 and 0.7234, with the 100-period SMA near 0.7191 reinforcing the broader bullish structure on deeper pullbacks.

(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 stays weak above 0.6900 after China’s trade data

AUD/USD struggles to capitalize on the previous day’s recovery and stays defensive on the 0.6900 level following the narrowing of trade surplus in China. Increased December Fed rate hike bets allows the US Dollar to pause its decline and weigh on the pair. US CPI data is next of note for the major.

USD/JPY retakes 158.00 on weak Japanese data; focus shifts to US CPI

USD/JPY attracts some dip-buyers and retakes 158.00 in the Asian session on Tuesday as a fall in Japan’s Household Spending offsets hawkish BoJ Summary of Opinions, undermining the Japanese Yen. Moreover, Fed hike bets support the safe-haven US Dollar and the currency pair. The market focus now shifts to the release of the crucial US CPI report.

Gold sticks to modest losses amid Fed hike bets; holds above $4,100 ahead of US CPI

Gold meets fresh supply, eroding a part of the previous day's strong gains to the $4,150 resistance zone, albeit it holds above the $4,100 mark heading into the European session. Firming US Federal Reserve rate-hike expectations turn out to be a key factor driving flows away from the non-yielding bullion. Meanwhile, the US Dollar struggles to lure buyers amid mixed signals regarding the state of diplomatic talks between the US and Iran, offering some support to the commodity as traders seem hesitant ahead of US consumer inflation figures.

Bitcoin hits lowest weekly close since August as short-term holders slip into losses

Bitcoin fell below $75,000 on Tuesday, after recording its lowest weekly close since August as selling pressure pushed recent buyers into losses.

This weeks’ two big inflation reports will offer perspective

Payrolls on Friday surprised with a big gain, 165,000 new jobs rather than the 65,000 forecast. Also the unemployment rate fell from 4.2% to 4.1% although average hourly earnings are up only 0.4% ($32.75). This weeks’ two big inflation reports will offer perspective. Tomorrow it’s CPI and on Friday, which is a Friday the 13th, it’s PPI.

Gold reclaimed $4,100. Tuesday’s CPI test decides if it holds
Gold (XAU/USD) starts the week on a positive note, reclaiming the $4,100 psychological level as the US Dollar (USD) retreats from its recent highs. The precious metal recovers from Friday's losses, although investors remain cautious ahead of Tuesday's US Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, which could determine the next direction for Bullion.