Aussie Drops to Record Fresh Lows as RBA Cuts Benchmark Rate
The Reserve Bank of Australia decided yesterday to cut the cash rate from 2.50% to 2.25%. The 25 basis points reduction was a surprise for the market participants who have been expecting no change. The monetary statement by Governor Glenn Stevens was also dovish, highlighting commodity prices declines, stating that “growth is below-trend pace” and closing by saying that “a lower exchange rate may be needed”. The AUDUSD declined suddenly from 0.7829 to 0.7650 achieving a fresh low level since May 2009.
As we can see at the chart below, the left vertical axis is the RBA main Cash rate and the right vertical axis represents the monthly AUDUSD exchange rate path. We can recognize the positive correlation between the cash rate and the AUDUSD because when the RBA was reducing rates the Aussie was declining against the US dollar. Therefore we keep a bearish bias over the longer term for the currency pair. Coming back to the shorter term a key support level at 0.7722 is reached and fresh sell off has been triggered, down trend prevails but the oscillators are oversold and some indicators provide bullish divergence warnings.
Furthermore, the Australian dollar declined against the Japanese Yen to new 1-year low at 0.8947, previous key support at 90.29 was unable to hold its ground. The Japanese Yen strengthened in recent trading and should that continue we might see the AUDJPY moving to next support at 88.20.
Elsewhere, the Euro against the greenback remains still in consolidation zone ahead of major economic releases, between 1.1419 and 1.1262. Concerning the US Dollar, yesterday, the US ISM manufacturing reports were below expectations, in addition the US Consumer Spending showed a larger drop than expected. That weigh on the greenback but every one remains on sidelines ahaed of Non-Farm Employment. The Kiwi against the greenback went to fresh lows at 0.7178 weighed by RBA decision to cut rates. Later on today we are expecting Euro PPI, US Factory Orders and New Zealand Unemployment rate expected at 5.3%.