Australian Dollar remains close to three-year top vs. USD; AUD/USD eyes 0.7100 mark

AUD/USD gains some positive traction on Monday amid a combination of supporting factors.
The divergent Fed-RBA policy expectations lend support to the AUD amid a positive risk tone.
Hopes for more stimulus from China benefit the Aussie and back the case for further upside.

Haresh Menghani FXStreet

The AUD/USD pair attracts some buyers in the vicinity of mid-0.7000s during the Asian session on Monday and, for now, seems to have stalled its corrective pullback from a three-year high, touched last week. Spot prices currently trade around the 0.7080 region, up 0.10% for the day, and seem poised to appreciate further amid a supportive fundamental backdrop.

The US Dollar (USD) continues with its struggle to attract any meaningful buyers and extends its sideways consolidative price in a familiar range held over the past week or so amid dovish Federal Reserve (Fed) expectations. In fact, traders ramped up their bets that the US central bank will lower borrowing costs in June following the release of softer US consumer inflation figures on Friday.

Moreover, the Fed is expected to deliver at least two 25 basis points (bps) rate cut in 2026. This marks a significant divergence in comparison to expectations that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) will hike interest rates again in May, which continues to act as a tailwind for the Australian Dollar (AUD) and validates the constructive outlook for the AUD/USD pair amid a positive risk tone.

Meanwhile, China's inflation figures released last week fueled concerns that deflationary pressures continue to weigh on the world’s second-largest economy. The data raised hopes for more fiscal and monetary stimulus from China, which further benefits the China-proxy Aussie. The focus shifts to the release of the FOMC Minutes on Wednesday and Australian employment details on Friday.

Australian Dollar FAQs

What key factors drive the Australian Dollar?

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.

How do the decisions of the Reserve Bank of Australia impact the Australian Dollar?

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.

How does the health of the Chinese Economy impact the Australian Dollar?

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.

How does the price of Iron Ore impact the Australian Dollar?

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.

How does the Trade Balance impact the Australian Dollar?

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

Haresh Menghani

FXStreet

Haresh Menghani is a detail-oriented professional with 10+ years of extensive experience in analysing the global financial markets.

GBP/USD trims gains; back to 1.3450-ish

The persistent weakness hurting the Greenback lends support to the British Pound and the rest of the risk-linked assets, sending GBP/USD to new two-day tops past 1.3480 on Wednesday. Indeed, Cable advances for the second day in a row helped by the constant optimism around a potential US-Iran deal.

EUR/USD hovers around two-month peaks near 1.1560

EUR/USD advances for the second day in a row, challenging multi-week highs in the 1.1560 zone on Wednesday. The persistent weakness hitting the US Dollar underpins the move higher in spot while market participants continue to closely follow developments from the Middle East and gear up for upcoming key data releases in the US jobs market. On Thursday, all the attention will be on the release of weekly Claims alongside Challenger Job Cuts.

How Wall Street rigs the game [Video]

In this week’s Live from the Vault, Andrew Maguire is joined by Peter Antico and Sean Stone to discuss the Paradigm of Money - an in-depth expose of financial market corruption, from naked shorting to the two-tier system that protects Wall Street.

Gold vs Bitcoin Price Prediction: Breakout momentum builds on Strait of Hormuz deal hopes

Gold (XAU/USD) is accelerating its rebound near $4,250 at the time of writing on Wednesday amid easing geopolitical tensions after United States (US) President Donald Trump said that a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz was imminent. Bitcoin (BTC) mirrors the metal’s near-term bullish bias, edging higher toward the resistance at $65,000.

Taking out the lines in the sand

Good Day... And a Wonderful Wednesday to you! Well, just as I suspected, my beloved Cardinals' bats went silent last night in the Bronx, and they lost 0-2... The Yankees' bats were exactly a murderer's row, but they hit 2 homers and won. I said yesterday that the song : Just Once In My Life, could be the Cardinals' song after hitting 5 home runs the previous night!

9-3: Is the Federal Reserve’s vote tally Warsh's new forward guidance?

The rate did not move. Neither did the statement, and that’s the more interesting fact. Set the July 29 Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) statement beside the one issued on June 17, and the two documents are identical apart from a single verb and a paragraph at the bottom naming three dissenters.