AUD/USD Price Analysis – Oct 22, 2024
Daily Price Outlook
During the European trading session, the AUD/USD currency pair maintained its upward momentum, gaining positive traction around the 0.6687 level and reaching an intra-day high of 0.6694.
This upward movement can be attributed to the hawkish outlook from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), driven by strong employment data from Australia. Additionally, China's recent rate cuts provided further support for the AUD, as China is Australia’s largest trading partner.
However, the pair gains could be limited amid sharp rise in US Treasury yields, which surged over 2% on Monday due to signs of robust economic activity and concerns about a potential resurgence of inflation in the United States.
Traders are now anticipating the upcoming Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) reports from both the US and Australia, set for release on Thursday. These reports could offer further insights into the economic outlooks and influence future monetary policy decisions.
Positive RBA Outlook and Strong Employment Data Support AUD/USD, But Future Rate Cut Expectations May Limit Gains
On the AUD front, the Australian Dollar received support from a positive outlook on the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) policy, fueled by strong employment data. China's recent interest rate cuts also benefited the AUD, as China is Australia’s largest trading partner.
RBA Deputy Governor Andrew Hauser, speaking at the CBA 2024 Global Markets Conference, highlighted the surprisingly strong employment growth and noted that while the RBA closely watches data, it remains flexible and not overly focused on short-term changes.
On the data front, Australia’s job market showed impressive gains in September, with employment rising by 64.1K, much higher than the expected 25K increase. This pushed total employment to a record 14.52 million.
Meanwhile, the unemployment rate held steady at 4.1%, below the forecasted 4.2%. In response to these developments, the National Australia Bank revised its outlook for RBA rate cuts, now predicting the first reduction in February 2025, instead of May, with rates expected to drop gradually to 3.10% by early 2026.
Therefore, the strong employment data and positive RBA outlook boosted the AUD/USD pair, but future rate cut expectations could limit gains as market focus shifts to long-term monetary easing by the RBA.
US Dollar Strengthens on Strong Economic Data and Reduced Fed Rate Cut Expectations, Pressuring AUD/USD Pair
On the US front, the US Dollar gained strength as recent economic data reduced the chances of a large interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve (Fed) in November. The CME FedWatch Tool now indicates an 89.1% likelihood of a 25-basis-point rate cut, with no expectation of a bigger 50-basis-point cut.
US Treasury bond yields also reflect this sentiment, with 2-year yields at 4.02% and 10-year yields at 4.19%. Federal Reserve officials, including Minneapolis President Neel Kashkari, have noted that while the Fed will eventually ease rates, the process will likely be gradual, not aggressive.
On the data front, US economic indicators showed strength. Retail sales increased by 0.4% month-over-month in September, better than both the previous month's 0.1% rise and market expectations of a 0.3% gain.
Additionally, Initial Jobless Claims fell by 19,000 in the week ending October 11, the largest drop in three months, with total claims at 241,000, much lower than the expected 260,000. These figures suggest a healthy labor market, further supporting the Fed’s cautious approach to cutting interest rates gradually.
Therefore, the strong US economic data and reduced chances of aggressive Fed rate cuts boosted the US Dollar, putting downward pressure on the AUD/USD pair as the USD gained strength against the Aussie Dollar.
AUD/USD – Technical Analysis
The Australian dollar is showing a modest uptick against the U.S. dollar, with the AUD/USD pair currently trading at $0.66875, up 0.44% on the day. On the 4-hour chart, the pair remains near key pivot levels, indicating potential for both upside and downside movement depending on upcoming economic data and market sentiment.
The immediate pivot point stands at $0.66985, with the pair's direction largely dictated by price action around this level.
Immediate resistance lies at $0.67233, and if breached, could lead to further upside with targets at $0.67454 and $0.67688. On the flip side, should bearish momentum take over, the price could slip toward immediate support at $0.66687, followed by $0.66512 and $0.66302.
The 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA), which is currently positioned at $0.66883, serves as a dynamic support level and will play a critical role in determining near-term direction.
The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is currently at 52, indicating neutral momentum, suggesting that neither buyers nor sellers have a strong grip on the market at present. With the RSI hovering around the mid-point, traders should watch for potential shifts in sentiment based on global risk factors and U.S. dollar dynamics.
In conclusion, the current price action suggests a possible short-term bearish bias if the price slips below $0.66982. A sell entry below this level with a target of $0.66681 and a stop-loss at $0.67158 may provide favorable risk-reward opportunities. However, upside potential remains viable if resistance levels are tested.
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