- AUD/USD remains confined in a familiar trading band through the Asian session on Wednesday.
- Traders keenly await the highly-anticipated FOMC decision before placing fresh directional bets.
- Speculations that the RBA is done hiking rates to keep a lid on any meaningful appreciating move.
The AUD/USD pair struggles to gain any meaningful traction during the Asian session on Wednesday and remains below a two-week high, around the 0.6470-0.6475 area touched the previous day. Spot prices oscillates in a familiar band and currently hover around mid-0.6400s, awaiting the outcome of the highly-anticipated FOMC policy meeting before the next leg of a directional move.
Traders expect the Federal Reserve (Fed) to keep rates on hold and hence, the focus will be on the forward guidance. The markets have been pricing in the possibility of more more 25 bps lift-off by the end of this year in the wake of resilient US macro data and still-sticky inflation. The outlook remains supportive of elevated US Treasury bond yields, which seem to underpin the US Dollar (USD) and act as a headwind for the AUD/USD pair.
The downside, however, seems cushioned as investors look for fresh cues about the Fed's future rate-hike path, which will help in determining the near-term trajectory for the buck. Hence, the focus will remain on the accompanying monetary policy statement and Fed Chair Jerome Powell's comments at the post-meeting press conference. In the meantime, traders opt to wait on the sidelines, leading to a subdued price action around the AUD/USD pair.
Spot prices, meanwhile, move little in reaction to the People's Bank of China's (PBoC) decision to leave benchmark lending rates unchanged at a monthly fixing, matching market expectations. Meanwhile, speculations that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) might have already ended its rate-hiking cycle warrant some caution before positioning for an extension of the AUD/USD pair's recent recovery from the 0.6355 area, or the YTD low touched earlier this month.
Techincal levels to watch
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
EUR/USD stays near 1.0400 in thin holiday trading
EUR/USD trades with mild losses near 1.0400 on Tuesday. The expectation that the US Federal Reserve will deliver fewer rate cuts in 2025 provides some support for the US Dollar. Trading volumes are likely to remain low heading into the Christmas break.
GBP/USD struggles to find direction, holds steady near 1.2550
GBP/USD consolidates in a range at around 1.2550 on Tuesday after closing in negative territory on Monday. The US Dollar preserves its strength and makes it difficult for the pair to gain traction as trading conditions thin out on Christmas Eve.
Gold holds above $2,600, bulls non-committed on hawkish Fed outlook
Gold trades in a narrow channel above $2,600 on Tuesday, albeit lacking strong follow-through buying. Geopolitical tensions and trade war fears lend support to the safe-haven XAU/USD, while the Fed’s hawkish shift acts as a tailwind for the USD and caps the precious metal.
IRS says crypto staking should be taxed in response to lawsuit
In a filing on Monday, the US International Revenue Service stated that the rewards gotten from staking cryptocurrencies should be taxed, responding to a lawsuit from couple Joshua and Jessica Jarrett.
2025 outlook: What is next for developed economies and currencies?
As the door closes in 2024, and while the year feels like it has passed in the blink of an eye, a lot has happened. If I had to summarise it all in four words, it would be: ‘a year of surprises’.
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.