- AUD/USD showed a significant increase of 0.75%, rising to 0.6720.
- The continued hawkish stance of the RBA supports the Aussie against its peers.
- Intense dovish bets on the Fed weigh on the USD.
On Monday, the AUD/USD is gaining significant traction mainly due to a weaker USD on a quiet Monday. In addition, the monetary policy divergence between the Federal Reserve (Fed), set to start cutting in September, versus the reluctance of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to cut is also pushing the pair upward.
Despite the mixed Australian economic outlook and the high inflation, the RBA's persistent hawkish stance has led to markets pricing in just 25 basis points of easing for 2024, which seems to be making the Aussie gain more traction.
Daily digest market movers: Aussie extends gains through RBA's hawkish guidance
- Aussie showed signs of gaining strength or at least maintaining its current levels, largely due to the hawkish guidance by the RBA.
- Despite the falling trend in iron ore prices, the RBA's persistent hawkish stance is providing significant support to the Australian Dollar.
- The markets are now looking forward to Tuesday’s discourse on the last RBA meeting's minutes, which could influence the pair's future trajectory.
- With a weakened USD due to a quiet Monday session, the AUD/USD pair has the potential for further upside facilitated by the monetary policy difference.
AUD/USD technical outlook: AUD/USD buyers prevail, bullish outlook persists
From a technical perspective, the AUD/USD pair has shown an inclination toward an upward trajectory based on the daily indicators. The Relative Strength Index (RSI), an oscillator that denotes market momentum, has been fluctuating around the mid-levels but has recently risen to 62, implying increased bullish sentiment. The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) further validates this bullish bias, evident from its rising green bars.
As the pair inches upward, it might face resistance around the 0.6750 mark, a level that presents a tough ceiling. Support is seen at 0.6730, 0.6715 and 0.6700.
Interest rates FAQs
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 below 1.1100, looks to post weekly losses
EUR/USD continues to trade in a narrow range below 1.1100 and remains on track to end the week in negative territory. Earlier in the day, monthly PCE inflation data from the US came in line with the market expectation, failing to trigger a reaction.
GBP/USD struggles to find a foothold, trades near 1.3150
GBP/USD stays on the back foot and trades in negative territory at around 1.3150 on Friday. The US Dollar holds its ground following the July PCE inflation data and doesn't allow the pair to stage a rebound heading into the weekend.
Gold retreats toward $2,500 ahead of the weekend
Gold stays under modest bearish pressure and declines toward $2,500 in the American session on Friday. The 10-year US Treasury bond yield edges higher toward 3.9% after US PCE inflation data, causing XAU/USD to stretch lower.
Week ahead – Investors brace for NFP amid Fed rate cut speculation
Here comes another NFP week, with investors eagerly awaiting the results as they try to discern the size and pace of the Fed’s forthcoming rate cuts. The weaker than expected July numbers triggered market turbulence, instilling fears about a potential recession in the US.
Easing Eurozone inflation to back an ECB rate cut in September Premium
Eurostat will publish the preliminary estimate of the August Eurozone Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices on Friday, and the anticipated outcome will back up the case for another European Central Bank interest rate cut when policymakers meet in September.
Moneta Markets review 2024: All you need to know
VERIFIED In this review, the FXStreet team provides an independent and thorough analysis based on direct testing and real experiences with Moneta Markets – an excellent broker for novice to intermediate forex traders who want to broaden their knowledge base.