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Australian Dollar Outlook: US Dollar, Treasuries, Commodities. Where to for AUD/USD?

Australian Dollar Outlook: US Dollar, Treasuries, Commodities. Where to for AUD/USD?

Daniel McCarthy, Strategist

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AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR FORECAST: NEUTRAL

  • The Australian Dollar went south on US Dollar resurgence
  • Commodities undermined AUD but iron ore might run into issues
  • US yields are a focus ahead. What would a peak mean for AUD/USD?
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The Australian Dollar depreciated over the week as US Dollar strength and commodity weakness dominated market focus. Interest rates have intermittently impacted AUD/USD as yield spreads widened and narrowed, but it was rising US yields that lifted USD across the board.

US CPI arrived on Wednesday and dominated the week after an ‘eye popping’ result saw headline annual CPI running at a 30-year high of 6.2% and core inflation at 4.6%. This led to Treasuries selling off as US yields screamed higher, underpinning the US Dollar.

Risk assets sold off in the melee and this also weighed on AUD as commodity prices remained under pressure. Iron ore briefly traded under US$82 a tonne on the Dalian commodity exchange in China, a long way from the highs above US$200 seen earlier in the year.

Iron ore could see prices below US$ 80 a tonne but there is a point where marginal producers become unprofitable, and it may not be that far off. This could see a stabilization in prices once that situation becomes apparent.

Early in the week, the NAB business conditions and confidence data came in stronger than last month, as did the Westpac consumer confidence survey.

The disappointment for the Aussie came via the jobs’ numbers on Thursday. The unemployment rate rose to 5.2% against 4.8% expected. Employment fell by 46,300 versus 50,000 that was anticipated to be added. The participation rate edged up to 64.7% from 64.5%.

It should be noted that the period covered for data was 26th September to 9th October. This did not capture a significant proportion of the Australian population coming out of lockdown. Next month’s jobs data will be highly scrutinised for measures of how the economy is emerging from Covid restrictions.

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The week ahead sees RBA meeting minutes released but we are unlikely to learn anything new from them. For AUD/USD, the main stage will be US yields, and if the Fed stays the course or verbalisers any change in tack in monetary policy.

After the CPI release, San Francisco Federal Reserve Governor Mary Daly re-iterated the ‘transitory’ mantra on inflation. The market has priced in 2 hikes by this time next year and is challenging the Fed’s timeframe for rate rises. It’s possible the market has got ahead itself in dumping fixed interest. This might hinder US yields going much higher and in turn, providing ongoing support for the US Dollar. AUD/USD could be caught on the sidelines.

AUD/USD AGAINST THE USD INDEX (DXY)

Chart created in TradingView

--- Written by Daniel McCarthy, Strategist for DailyFX.com

To contact Daniel, use the comments section below or @DanMcCathyFX on Twitter

DailyFX provides forex news and technical analysis on the trends that influence the global currency markets.

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