Australian Dollar snaps a winning streak amid upbeat US Dollar


  • Australian Dollar moves downward on the rising US Dollar.
  • Australia’s central bank is expected to raise policy rates; contributing support for the AUD.
  • Chinese report revealed a decline in both manufacturing and non-manufacturing PMI for September.
  • Downbeat US Treasury yields could limit the advance of the Greenback.

The Australian Dollar (AUD) halts a three-day winning streak on Tuesday. The rebound in US Dollar (USD) is weighing on the AUD/USD pair. However, the positive Australian Retail Sales contributed support for the Aussie pair ahead of the policy decision from the US Federal Reserve (Fed) on Wednesday. Moreover, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is set to release its policy decision on November 7.

Australia’s central bank is expected to raise interest rates by 25 basis points in the upcoming meeting on the back of elevated inflation. In the week before, Australia's Consumer Price Index (CPI) revealed an expansion in the third quarter of 2023, surpassing the increase seen in the second quarter. Furthermore, the seasonally adjusted Retail Sales (Month-on-Month) pleasantly surprised the market, posting a notably higher reading in September.

The Tuesday Chinese report revealed a decline in both manufacturing and non-manufacturing Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for September, heightening concerns about the sluggish economic conditions in the world's second-largest economy. This development raises the possibility of an impact on the Australian Dollar, given Australia's status as the largest trading partner of China.

The US Dollar Index (DXY) retraces recent losses before the US Fed policy decision. The moderate economic data from the United States (US) released on Friday failed to provide any support for the Greenback as the market participants expect the Fed to maintain its interest rates at 5.5% in the upcoming meeting.

However, the December’s meeting will be data-driven. As per the CME Fedwatch tools, Markets factor in a 23% probability of the Fed hiking 25 basis points (bps) in the December meeting.

Daily Digest Market Movers: Australian Dollar consolidates post recent gains ahead of Fed policy decision

  • Australia's Retail Sales (Month-on-Month) soared to 0.9% in September, surpassing market expectations of 0.3% and the previous figure of 0.2%.
  • Australia’s Producer Price Index (PPI) exhibited a modest easing, dropping to 3.8% on a yearly basis in Q3, compared to the previous quarter's 3.9%. On a quarterly basis, the nation's PPI experienced a significant rise to 1.8%, up from the previous reading of 0.5%.
  • Australian Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the third quarter of 2023 reached 1.2%, exceeding both the 0.8% uptick in the previous quarter and the market consensus of 1.1% for the same period.
  • The Reserve Bank of Australia stated heightened concern about the inflation impact stemming from supply shocks. Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, Michele Bullock stated that if inflation persists above projections, the RBA will take responsive policy measures. There is an observable deceleration in demand, and per capita consumption is on the decline.
  • China's NBS Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) took an unexpected turn in September, contracting to 49.5, down from the 50.2 expansion observed in July and falling short of the market consensus of 50.2. Additionally, the NBS Services PMI also experienced a decline, dropping to 50.6 in September compared to the anticipated figure of 51.8 and the previous reading of 51.7.
  • According to reports, there's a tentative agreement between the US and China for a meeting between Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping in November. This comes after months of strategic diplomatic efforts to mend relations.
  • US Core Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index (YoY) saw a slight decline to 3.7% from the previous reading of 3.8%. However, the monthly index showed an increase to 0.3%, in line with expectations and up from 0.1% previously.
  • The University of Michigan Consumer Index surpassed expectations in October, reporting a figure of 63.8, which was expected to remain consistent at 63.0.
  • The market participants await the Fed Interest Rate Decision on Wednesday, expecting the interest rates to be kept at 5.5% in the upcoming meeting on Wednesday.
  • Investor attention will be directed towards key indicators such as the US ADP Employment Change, and ISM Manufacturing PMI for October.

Technical Analysis: Australian Dollar hovers around the key support level at 0.6350

The Australian Dollar consolidates near the significant level at 0.6350. The yearly low at 0.6270 may serve as a key support, aligned with the major level around 0.6250. Looking upward, the pivotal resistance at 0.6400 is noteworthy, accompanied by the 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at 0.6405. A successful breach above this resistance could propel the currency towards the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement level at 0.6417.

AUD/USD: Daily Chart:

Australian Dollar price today

The table below shows the percentage change of Australian Dollar (AUD) against listed major currencies today. Australian Dollar was the weakest against the New Zealand Dollar.

  USD EUR GBP CAD AUD JPY NZD CHF
USD   -0.08% 0.05% 0.03% 0.08% 0.69% -0.11% -0.02%
EUR 0.09%   0.15% 0.15% 0.16% 0.78% -0.02% 0.05%
GBP -0.05% -0.15%   0.00% 0.03% 0.64% -0.15% -0.09%
CAD -0.03% -0.09% 0.01%   0.04% 0.66% -0.16% -0.06%
AUD -0.09% -0.16% -0.02% -0.02%   0.60% -0.19% -0.12%
JPY -0.69% -0.77% -0.64% -0.67% -0.63%   -0.80% -0.71%
NZD 0.12% 0.05% 0.17% 0.18% 0.18% 0.80%   0.08%
CHF -0.01% -0.03% 0.09% 0.08% 0.10% 0.71% -0.09%  

The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the Euro from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the Japanese Yen, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent EUR (base)/JPY (quote).

Interest rates FAQs

What are interest rates?

Interest rates are charged by financial institutions on loans to borrowers and are paid as interest to savers and depositors. They are influenced by base lending rates, which are set by central banks in response to changes in the economy. Central banks normally have a mandate to ensure price stability, which in most cases means targeting a core inflation rate of around 2%.
If inflation falls below target the central bank may cut base lending rates, with a view to stimulating lending and boosting the economy. If inflation rises substantially above 2% it normally results in the central bank raising base lending rates in an attempt to lower inflation.

How do interest rates impact currencies?

Higher interest rates generally help strengthen a country’s currency as they make it a more attractive place for global investors to park their money.

How do interest rates influence the price of Gold?

Higher interest rates overall weigh on the price of Gold because they increase the opportunity cost of holding Gold instead of investing in an interest-bearing asset or placing cash in the bank.
If interest rates are high that usually pushes up the price of the US Dollar (USD), and since Gold is priced in Dollars, this has the effect of lowering the price of Gold.

What is the Fed Funds rate?

The Fed funds rate is the overnight rate at which US banks lend to each other. It is the oft-quoted headline rate set by the Federal Reserve at its FOMC meetings. It is set as a range, for example 4.75%-5.00%, though the upper limit (in that case 5.00%) is the quoted figure.
Market expectations for future Fed funds rate are tracked by the CME FedWatch tool, which shapes how many financial markets behave in anticipation of future Federal Reserve monetary policy decisions.

Share: Feed news

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


Recommended content

Editors’ Picks

AUD/USD: The hunt for the 0.7000 hurdle

AUD/USD: The hunt for the 0.7000 hurdle

AUD/USD quickly left behind Wednesday’s strong pullback and rose markedly past the 0.6900 barrier on Thursday, boosted by news of fresh stimulus in China as well as renewed weakness in the US Dollar.

AUD/USD News
EUR/USD refocuses its attention to 1.1200 and above

EUR/USD refocuses its attention to 1.1200 and above

Rising appetite for the risk-associated assets, the offered stance in the Greenback and Chinese stimulus all contributed to the resurgence of the upside momentum in EUR/USD, which managed to retest the 1.1190 zone on Thursday.

EUR/USD News
Gold holding at higher ground at around $2,670

Gold holding at higher ground at around $2,670

Gold breaks to new high of $2,673 on Thursday. Falling interest rates globally, intensifying geopolitical conflicts and heightened Fed easing bets are the main factors. 

Gold News
Ethena Labs launches new UStb stablecoin backed by BlackRock's BUIDL token

Ethena Labs launches new UStb stablecoin backed by BlackRock's BUIDL token

Ethena Labs announced on Thursday that it has released a new stablecoin product, UStb. The new stablecoin will be fully collateralized by BlackRock's USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund and function similarly to a traditional stablecoin.

Read more
RBA widely expected to keep key interest rate unchanged amid persisting price pressures

RBA widely expected to keep key interest rate unchanged amid persisting price pressures

The Reserve Bank of Australia is likely to continue bucking the trend adopted by major central banks of the dovish policy pivot, opting to maintain the policy for the seventh consecutive meeting on Tuesday.

Read more
Five best Forex brokers in 2024

Five best Forex brokers in 2024

VERIFIED Choosing the best Forex broker in 2024 requires careful consideration of certain essential factors. With the wide array of options available, it is crucial to find a broker that aligns with your trading style, experience level, and financial goals. 

Read More

Forex MAJORS

Cryptocurrencies

Signatures