FX News

Overview
A quiet start to the week with relatively little economic data overnight to influence markets. Overnight US equities continued to surge higher with both the S&P500 and Dow indices rising to new record highs. On commodity markets oil continued to weaken, with WTI crude down 1.2% to US$44.20/brl continuing a four week decline as US drillers add oil rigs, circumventing attempts by OPEC to rebalance an oversupplied market. Also making news last night was the long anticipated news of an Australian credit downgrade by rating agency Moody’s, who dropped the credit rating of the four Australian banks, ANZ, Westpac, CBA and NAB on concerns over “elevated risks within the household sector due to high levels of indebtedness” i.e. Mortgages. Read more

Australia
The AUD traded higher yesterday, hitting a two month high of 0.7631 against the USD on much better than expected jobs data. Figures showed that May unemployment fell to 5.5% exceeding expectations of 5.7%. The data was encouraging as it showed that the jobs growth was all in full time employment with 52,100 full-time positions added to the economy while 10,100 part-time ones fell away. This defied previous forecasts of an increase of only 10,000 new jobs. Read more

Overview 
Markets have opened the week with a more stable tone, with little in the way of major data releases, as they wait for this week’s main event, the Fed meeting on Thursday. Expectations are for a rate hike of 0.25%, but concentration will be on the accompanying rhetoric and if there is a pointer to another one or two rate increases later in the year. An indication of two further rate hikes would put the market on the back foot as while another hike is also widely expected a second hike is not currently priced-in and increased probability of such an event would likely see a jump in USD values. The fallout from the UK continues with the Conservative government looking at six-and-sevens as it struggles to create some order from the political chaos. Read more

Australia
After Tuesday’s meeting where the RBA kept rates on hold as expected at 1.5% the AUD has rallied back over 0.7500 against the USD supported by a better than expected GDP result for the March quarter. Data released showed that the economy grew by an anaemic 0.3% in the first quarter, but this was better than suggested after the poor balance of payments figure released on Tuesday. After breaking through 0.7500 the AUD extended gains to a month high at 0.7565, has now consolidated around the 0.7540 level. The RBA reaffirmed its expectations of ongoing strengthening economic growth in its Tuesday statement even though year-on-year growth has slowed from 2.4% to 1.7%, placing GDP growth close towards the bottom of the 2-3%  RBA target range. Read more

Overview
US equity markets opened the week off last week’s all-time highs, with the USD slumping with crude oil as risk trades took a back seat and markets opened a week full of events on a cautious tone. This week will be dominated by 3 main events all occurring on Thursday, the UK election (we should know the outcome by Friday midday), the European Central Bank (ECB)  meeting and the former head of the FBI James Comey is scheduled to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday morning in the US. Hopefully in the UK the Conservatives will win with an increased majority, giving some certainty to Brexit negotiations. The ECB will continue with a “steady-as-she goes” policy statement (expected by the market) and Comey’s testimony will not have a “smoking gun” that destabilises (further) the Trump administration. Read more

Australia
The Australian dollar had a good and bad day yesterday with choppy trading in a day dominated by data. The release of Australian April retail sales which were better than expected, showing a 1% growth for the month saw the AUD climb to 0.7453, but then was battered down to 0.7372 after Chinese manufacturing PMI figures came in at 11 month lows and iron ore prices continued to fall hitting an 8 month low. Next week will see the RBA rate decision on Tuesday, expectations are for no change but as always the wording around the statement and any forward guidance given by the RBA will be closely analysed. Read more

Overview
Last week ended on a mixed note as although the S&P 500 closed on Friday at an all-time high, there was negative news, with Hong Kong receiving a credit rating downgrade from Moody’s from Aa1 to Aa2, this followed a cut, for the first time since 1989, in China’s debt rating on Wednesday. A shortened trading week due to the US Memorial Day holiday yesterday will give traders a lot to digest over a reduced period as a raft of economic data is released this week. Markets are pricing in an 80% chance of a Fed rate hike in June but as always data is key. Later tonight will bring US personal consumption expenditure index data, the central bank’s preferred gauge of inflation. Wednesday will bring initial jobless claims and ADP payrolls, a day later traders get manufacturing survey results, and the week culminates with monthly Non-Farm payroll data, the bright spot of the economy.  Read more

Australia
We have only had some minor second tier data released from Australia this week and it’s had little effect on the markets. The CB leading index increased 0.5% up from 0.4% prior, while construction work done disappointed printing at -0.7% vs -0.5% expected. The Australian dollar has struggled to maintain a firm footing this week undermined by Moody’s downgrade of China on Wednesday and soft commodity prices. It heads into the end of the week feeling a little soggy. Next week’s data will be of more interest with building approvals, private capital expenditure and retails sales all set for release.  Read more

Overview
A quiet open to the week with little economic news and with President Trump “on-tour” the bad news eroding USD confidence has temporarily taken a back seat. US stocks rose for the third day boosted by President Trump’s trip to Saudi Arabia that saw trade deals announced across the defence, energy and infrastructure sectors, lifting industrial shares such as Boeing, Raytheon and 3M. Crude pushed to a one-month high before OPEC meets later this week. A more “risk-on” tone is now evident in financial markets, returning after political turmoil on a daily basis in Washington rattled investors and saw stocks have some the biggest declines since last September.  Read more

Australia
Data and news out later in the week was better for Australia and saw the Australian dollar rise over the old AUD/USD resistance level of 0.7400 soaring to a high of 0.7465 yesterday. On Wednesday, ratings agency Standard and Poor’s confirmed Australia’s AAA credit rating, however it continued to leave the nation on negative watch, and suggesting that  the Turnbull government may struggle to return to surplus by the forecasted date of 2020-21. Also positive and unexpected was yesterday’s fall in the April unemployment rate to 5.7% its lowest level in four months, expectations had been for a figure steady around 5.9%.  Read more