- Judo Bank’s Australian Services PMI sinks to second-lowest print in 23 months.
- Australian Composite PMI also slipped to 46.9 from 47.4.
The Australian Services sector contracted once more, according to the latest Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) data from Judo Bank.
Despite the seasonally-adjusted figure rising from November’s 46.0 to 47.1 in December, a third consecutive reading below 50.0 points towards a full quarter of services activity contraction.
This marks the fastest pace of services contraction since the third quarter of 2021.
According to Matthew De Pasuale, Economist at Judo Bank: “The composite output index ended the year with a reading of 46.9, a slight improvement from November. Readings over the past two months suggest that while the economy is slowing down, the slowdown is not accelerating. The new orders index softened for the third consecutive month to 46.7 in December, the lowest level since late 2021. Despite households facing ongoing pressure from elevated interest rates, the output and new order indexes remain at levels consistent with the RBA's forecast soft-landing for the Australian economy.”
Market reaction
The Australian Dollar is broadly unmoved by the figures, with the AUD/USD cycling the 0.6730 level with an ongoing economic downturn in the domestic Australian economy broadly priced into market expectations already.
About the Judo Bank Services PMI
The Services Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), released on a monthly basis by Judo Bank and S&P Global, is a leading indicator gauging business activity in Australia’s services sector. The data is derived from surveys of senior executives at private-sector companies from the services sector. Survey responses reflect the change, if any, in the current month compared to the previous month and can anticipate changing trends in official data series such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), employment and inflation. A reading above 50 indicates that the services economy is generally expanding, a bullish sign for the Australian Dollar (AUD). Meanwhile, a reading below 50 signals that activity among service providers is generally declining, which is seen as bearish for AUD.
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 holds above 1.0450 after German sentiment data
EUR/USD stays in positive territory above 1.0450 after retracing a portion of its bullish opening gap. The data from Germany showed that the IFO - Current Assessment Index declined to 84.3 in November from 85.7, while the Expectations Index edged lower to 87.2 from 87.3.
GBP/USD pulls back toward 1.2550 as US Dollar sell-off pauses
GBP/USD is falling back toward 1.2550 in the European session on Monday after opening with a bullish gap at the start of a new week. A pause in the US Dollar decline alongside the US Treasury bond yields weighs down on the pair. Speeches from BoE policymakers are eyed.
Gold price manages to hold above $2,650 amid sliding US bond yields
Gold price maintains its heavily offered tone through the early European session on Monday, albeit manages to hold above the $2,650 level and defend the 100-period Simple Moving Average (SMA) on the 4-hour chart. Scott Bessent's nomination as US Treasury Secretary clears a major point of uncertainty for markets.
Bitcoin consolidates after a new all-time high of $99,500
Bitcoin remains strong above $97,700 after reaching a record high of $99,588. At the same time, Ethereum edges closer to breaking its weekly resistance, signaling potential gains. Ripple holds steady at a critical support level, hinting at continued upward momentum.
Eurozone PMI sounds the alarm about growth once more
The composite PMI dropped from 50 to 48.1, once more stressing growth concerns for the eurozone. Hard data has actually come in better than expected recently – so ahead of the December meeting, the ECB has to figure out whether this is the PMI crying wolf or whether it should take this signal seriously. We think it’s the latter.
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.