- Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to Keep Official Cash Rate at Record-Low of 1.75%.
- Will Governor Glenn Stevens Keep the Door Open for Lower Borrowing-Costs?
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Trading the News: Reserve Bank of Australia Interest Rate Decision
According to a Bloomberg News survey, 25 of the 26 economists polled forecast the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to keep the benchmark interest rate at the record-low of 1.75%, but the fresh batch of central bank rhetoric may prop up the Australian dollar and generate a larger rebound in AUD/USD should Governor Glenn Stevens and Co. soft their dovish outlook for monetary policy.
What’s Expected:
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Why Is This Event Important:
The RBA may largely endorse a wait-and-see approach over the remain of 2016 after cutting the Official Cash Rate (OCR) to a fresh record-low of 1.75% in May, and a shift in the policy outlook may prop up the aussie over the near to medium-term should the central bank show a greater willingness to gradually move away from its easing cycle.
Expectations: Bullish Argument/Scenario
| Release | Expected | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| Trade Balance (APR) | -2.100B | -1.579B |
| Gross Domestic Product (YoY) (1Q) | 2.8.% | 3.1% |
| Unemployment Rate (APR) | 5.8% | 5.7% |
Signs of a stronger-than-expected recovery accompanied by the improvement in the terms of trade may encourage the RBA to adopt a more upbeat outlook for the region, and the Australian dollar may face a bullish reaction should the central bank talk down bets for lower borrowing-costs.
Risk: Bearish Argument/Scenario
| Release | Expected | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| Retail Sales (MoM) (APR) | 0.3% | 0.2% |
| Company Operating Profits (QoQ) (1Q) | 0.4% | -4.7% |
| Private Capital Expenditure (1Q) | -3.5% | -5.2% |
Nevertheless, the slowdown in private-sector consumption paired with the contraction in business investment may force Governor Stevens to further support the rebalancing of the real economy, and the higher-yielding currency may face near-term headwinds should the central bank keep the door open to further embark on its easing cycle.
How To Trade This Event Risk(Video)
Bullish AUD Trade: Growth Rate Slows to Annualized 2.8% or Lower
- Need green, five-minute candle following the rate decision for a long AUD/USD trade.
- If market reaction favors a bullish aussie position, buy AUD/USD with two separate lots.
- Set stop at the near-by swing low/reasonable distance from entry; look for at least 1:1 risk-to-reward.
- Move stop to breakeven on remaining position once initial target is met, set reasonable limit.
Bearish AUD Trade: Australia GDP Report Exceeds Market Forecast
- Need red, five-minute candle to consider a short AUD/USD position.
- Carry out the same setup as the bullish aussie trade, just in the opposite direction.
Potential Price Targets For The Release
AUD/USD Daily
- Longer-term outlook for AUD/USD remains tilted to the downside as the Relative Strength Index (RSI) preserves the bearish momentum from March, but the pair may continue to retrace the selloff from earlier this year should it break out of the downward trend from April, with a break/close above 0.7380 (50% retracement) to 0.7390 (78.6% expansion) to open up the next topside region of interest coming in around 0.7490 (61.8% retracement) to 0.7500 (61.8% expansion).
- Key Resistance: 0.7848 (June 2015 high) to 0.7860 (61.8% expansion)
- Key Support: 0.6826 (2016 low) to 0.6830 (161.8% expansion)
Check out the short-term technical levels that matter for AUD/USD heading into the report!
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Impact that the Reserve Bank of Australia rate decision has had on AUD during the last meeting
| Period | Data Released | Estimate | Actual | Pips Change | Pips Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAY 2016 | 05/03/2016 04:30 GMT | 2.00% | 1.75% | -140 | -223 |
May 2016 Reserve Bank of Australia Interest Rate Decision
AUD/USD 5-Minute Chart
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) unexpectedly cut the Official Cash Rate (OCR) to a fresh record-low of 1.75% in May, with Governor Glenn Stevens and Co. arguing that ‘the inflation outlook provided scope for a further easing in monetary policy’ as the central bank curbs its outlook for inflation. Moreover, the RBA warned ‘employment growth has slowed from the strong pace of last year and leading indicators of employment have been somewhat mixed of late,’ and the central bank may further embark on its easing cycle in 2016 in an effort to further assist with the rebalancing of the real economy. The Australian dollar slipped below the 0.7600 handle following the RBA rate-cut, with AUD/USD extending the decline throughout the day as it closed at 0.7483.
Get our top trading opportunities of 2016 HERE
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--- Written by David Song, Currency Analyst
To contact David, e-mail dsong@dailyfx.com. Follow me on Twitter at @DavidJSong.
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