The AUD/USD pair trades on a flat note around 0.6895 during the early Asian session on Monday. Traders continue to assess the developments surrounding talks to end the US war with Iran. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) will publish the minutes of its monetary policy meeting on Tuesday. All eyes will be on the US employment report later on Thursday.
Reuters reported on Sunday that the US and Iran agreed to pause recent hostilities in the Gulf and renew talks regarding their dispute over the Strait of Hormuz. Both countries plan to meet in Qatar on Tuesday.
This development came after several days of strikes and counterstrikes since an Iranian projectile hit a cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, with both Washington and Tehran accusing the other of breaking an interim ceasefire that was agreed to on June 17.
However, uncertainty remains high and any signs of rising tensions in the Middle East could provide some support to a safe-haven currency such as the US Dollar (USD) and create a headwind for the pair.
On the Aussie’s front, the latest Australian employment data might help limit the Aussie’s losses. The country’s Unemployment Rate dropped to 4.4% in May from 4.5% in April, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported on Thursday. The figure came in line with the market consensus. Markets have priced in nearly a 19% chance of an RBA rate hike for August 10–11, according to the ASX RBA Rate Indicator.
Australian Dollar FAQs
One of the most significant factors for the Australian Dollar (AUD) is the level of interest rates set by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA). Because Australia is a resource-rich country another key driver is the price of its biggest export, Iron Ore. The health of the Chinese economy, its largest trading partner, is a factor, as well as inflation in Australia, its growth rate and Trade Balance. Market sentiment – whether investors are taking on more risky assets (risk-on) or seeking safe-havens (risk-off) – is also a factor, with risk-on positive for AUD.
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) influences the Australian Dollar (AUD) by setting the level of interest rates that Australian banks can lend to each other. This influences the level of interest rates in the economy as a whole. The main goal of the RBA is to maintain a stable inflation rate of 2-3% by adjusting interest rates up or down. Relatively high interest rates compared to other major central banks support the AUD, and the opposite for relatively low. The RBA can also use quantitative easing and tightening to influence credit conditions, with the former AUD-negative and the latter AUD-positive.
China is Australia’s largest trading partner so the health of the Chinese economy is a major influence on the value of the Australian Dollar (AUD). When the Chinese economy is doing well it purchases more raw materials, goods and services from Australia, lifting demand for the AUD, and pushing up its value. The opposite is the case when the Chinese economy is not growing as fast as expected. Positive or negative surprises in Chinese growth data, therefore, often have a direct impact on the Australian Dollar and its pairs.
Iron Ore is Australia’s largest export, accounting for $118 billion a year according to data from 2021, with China as its primary destination. The price of Iron Ore, therefore, can be a driver of the Australian Dollar. Generally, if the price of Iron Ore rises, AUD also goes up, as aggregate demand for the currency increases. The opposite is the case if the price of Iron Ore falls. Higher Iron Ore prices also tend to result in a greater likelihood of a positive Trade Balance for Australia, which is also positive of the AUD.
The Trade Balance, which is the difference between what a country earns from its exports versus what it pays for its imports, is another factor that can influence the value of the Australian Dollar. If Australia produces highly sought after exports, then its currency will gain in value purely from the surplus demand created from foreign buyers seeking to purchase its exports versus what it spends to purchase imports. Therefore, a positive net Trade Balance strengthens the AUD, with the opposite effect if the Trade Balance is negative.
