AUD/USD: Bears attacking 0.6500 after pullback from seven-week top

AUD/USD extends the latest U-turn from 0.6530 to currently around 0.6510, defying the earlier pullback from 0.6490, at the start of Friday’s Asian session. While downbeat macroeconomics can be considered as a reason for the Aussie pair’s declines from the multi-day top, recently weak trading sentiment is also a catalyst for the risk barometer’s declines.

China’s Manufacturing PMIs earlier questioned the recent rally…

Not only soft prints of China’s April month official Manufacturing PMI, down to 50.8 from 51.0 expected, but Caixin Manufacturing PMI’s drop into the contraction suggesting region, to 49.4 from 50.1 prior, also were the first to check the Aussie bulls during Thursday’s Asian session.

The moves were then followed by downbeat European GDP and US Jobless Claims, Chicago Fed Manufacturing figures that spread worries of broad weakness in macroeconomics due to the coronavirus (COVID-19).

ECB’s soft landing also hurt the sentiment and so does Trump’s attack on China…

Other than the downbeat data-points, the European Central Bank’s (ECB) lack of bold moves as well as US President’s attack on China also weighs on the pair.

The ECB did soften rates for longer-term loans for banks and took measures to promote landing for special purpose loans. However, the vague performance of the ECB falls short of the economic threat and required actions as signaled by the regional central bank earlier.

US President Donald Trump continues to hold China responsible for the virus outbreak. His latest comments have direct links to the US-China trade deal that was the market’s main concern before the deadly virus erupted a few months back.

Moving on, Australia’s AiG Performance of Manufacturing Index and Commonwealth Bank Manufacturing PMI, with respective prior of 53.7 and 45.6, are likely immediate catalysts for the Aussie pair. Though, trade and virus updates are likely to have a major impact on the risk barometer’s performance.

Technical analysis

The pair’s failure to cross 100-day SMA, at 0.6566 now, seems to drag it back to mid-April top surrounding 0.6445/40. Though, bullish MACD keeps favoring the quote’s run-up towards 0.6685/90 area comprising 200-day SMA and March month high.