- The Reserve Bank of Australia will likely hike the cash rate by 25 bps.
- Mortgage rates in Australia are becoming a problem for households.
- AUD/USD is at risk of resuming its bearish trend and testing the 0.6300 area.
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) will announce its monetary policy decision on November 1, with board members stuck between a rock and a hard place. The Australian central bank hiked the cash rate in every single meeting since May but was the first to slow the pace of quantitative tightening, going for a modest 25 bps hike in October. The latter followed five-consecutive 50 bps hikes.
Australian policymakers joined the global tightening train amid spiraling inflation in May, when the benchmark rate stood at 0.1%. The decision to downsize in October resulted from soaring mortgage costs. With rates going from 0.1% to 2.6%, roughly 30% of homeowners started struggling to pay their home loans, according to Finder’s consumer sentiment tracker. But if the RBA wants inflation to return to target, it would need a more restrictive rate.
Australian inflation out of control
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 1.8% in the third quarter of the year, while the annualized pace of inflation hit 7.3%. The Trimmed Mean CPI, which tends to soften the average prices´ increase, rose by 6.1% YoY, the highest reading since the series commenced two decades ago.
Finally, like most major central banks, the RBA Board has the mandate to control inflation. Policymakers may keep an eye on a potential recession, but controlling prices is their priority.
For the time being, financial markets anticipate another 25 bps rate hike and one more of the same size in December, although a 50 bps move is still on the table, given the most recent inflation estimates.
Either way, the RBA will likely disappoint markets. A surprise higher-than-anticipated hike will lift the risks of a recession, while a conservative one will hardly affect inflation.
It is worth adding that the US Federal Reserve (Fed) will meet this week itself to decide on monetary policy. The United States central bank has aggressively tightened its monetary policy, and another 75 bps rate hike is already priced in for this meeting. US policymakers are also expected to pave the way for smaller hikes starting in December. The current interest rate in the US is 3.0%-3.25% and is expected to reach 4.5% by the end of the year.
The RBA began later with hikes and kick-started easing the first. The conservative stance is dovish itself, and markets are not expecting a hawkish surprise from Governor Philip Lowe.
AUD/USD possible scenarios
The AUD/USD pair hovers around 0.6400 ahead of the event. The pair recovered from a 2022 low of 0.6169, reaching 0.6521 before easing. It is currently meeting buyers at around the 38.2% retracement of the aforementioned rally at 0.6385. A break below the latter should favor a slide towards the 0.6300 price zone, where buyers may stand ready to defend the 61.8% retracement. The pair will resume its bearish trend on a daily close below 0.6300.
An unexpected bullish surprise could help AUD to resume its bullish run. The first resistance level comes in at 0.6440, followed by the 0.6500 figure. Yet it seems unlikely AUD/USD will strengthen beyond the monthly high ahead of US first-tier events scheduled for later in the week.
Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.
If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.
FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.
The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.
Recommended Content
Editors’ Picks
Pound Sterling edges higher after BoE rate cut, focus shifts to Governor Bailey – LIVE
The Bank of England (BoE) lowered the policy rate by 25 basis points to 4.75% following the November meeting, as expected, and said that the budget is forecast to boost inflation. BoE Governor Bailey will speak on the policy outlook in a press conference next.
EUR/USD clings to gains above 1.0750 amid US Dollar pullback
EUR/USD holds higher ground and trades above 1.0750 on Thursday. The pair finds support from a broad US Dollar retreat, as traders unwind their Trump win-inspired USD longs ahead of the Federal Reserve's highly-anticipated policy announcements.
Gold recovers above $2,660, awaits Fed rate decision
Gold recovers slightly following Wednesday's sharp decline and trades above $2,660. The benchmark 10-year US Treasury bond yield struggles to push higher after Trump-inspired upsurge, allowing XAU/USD to hold its ground ahead of the Fed policy decisions.
Federal Reserve expected to deliver 25 bps interest-rate cut, shrugging off Trump victory
The Federal Reserve is widely expected to lower the policy rate after Donald Trump won the US presidential election. Fed Chairman Powell’s remarks could provide important clues about the rate outlook.
Outlook for the markets under Trump 2.0
On November 5, the United States held presidential elections. Republican and former president Donald Trump won the elections surprisingly clearly. The Electoral College, which in fact elects the president, will meet on December 17, while the inauguration is scheduled for January 20, 2025.
Best Forex Brokers with Low Spreads
VERIFIED Low spreads are crucial for reducing trading costs. Explore top Forex brokers offering competitive spreads and high leverage. Compare options for EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY, and Gold.