Australian Dollar edges higher amid delayed tariffs and soft US data
- AUD/USD advanced to 0.6255 on Tuesday, extending Monday’s rebound.
- China announced tariffs on specific US goods.
- Market sentiment improves on expectations of softer US data and potential RBA easing.
On Tuesday, the AUD/USD rose to 0.6255 as the pair extended Monday’s comeback. The recovery comes after renewed US tariffs on China prompted by President Trump followed delays in tariffs on Canada and Mexico, the latter of which have eased trade war fears.
Meanwhile, aggressive bets on a February Royal Bank of Australia (RBA) rate cut and concerns over China’s economic slowdown continue to weigh on the AUD.
Daily digest market movers: Aussie up as China imposes tariffs on US
- President Trump first announced a 25% duty on goods from Canada and Mexico but then agreed to postpone these tariffs for a month, easing immediate trade tensions. In tandem, a 10% tariff on Chinese imports remains in effect, while China has signaled it will contest these measures at the WTO.
- The US Dollar experienced volatility after a brief rally that pushed the Dollar Index toward three-week highs near 110.00 and then fell toward 108.00.
- On the data front, JOLTS Job Openings fell to 7.6 million in December, missing the 8 million consensus estimate.
- On the home front, Australian CPI data for December is anticipated to show subdued inflation, forecast at around 2.5% YoY compared to 2.8% previously, which has bolstered market bets on a 25 bps RBA rate cut in February.
- However, persistent concerns over China's weak recovery and sluggish domestic economic momentum continue to weigh on the Aussie.
- Broader market risk sentiment remains cautious following recent volatility in global equity and bond markets, while renewed geopolitical concerns and technology sector sell-offs have also added safe-haven demand for the US Dollar.
AUD/USD technical outlook: Bulls step on the gas, outlook improves
The AUD/USD pair edged up to 0.6255 on Tuesday as it navigated within a narrow trading range between 0.6200 and 0.6300. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is at 53, positioned in positive territory and rising sharply, which signals growing buying interest.
Simultaneously, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) histogram displays green bars, suggesting that while bullish momentum is emerging, it is still tempered by prevailing market uncertainties. With support firmly established near 0.6200 and resistance around 0.6300, a break either way will dictate the pace of the pair.
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.