Skip to Content
News & Analysis at your fingertips.

We use a range of cookies to give you the best possible browsing experience. By continuing to use this website, you agree to our use of cookies.
You can learn more about our cookie policy here, or by following the link at the bottom of any page on our site. See our updated Privacy Policy here.

Free Trading Guides
Subscribe
Please try again
Select

Live Webinar Events

0

Economic Calendar Events

0

Notify me about

Live Webinar Events
Economic Calendar Events

H

High

M

Medium

L

Low
More View More
AUD/USD Fails to Close Above 200-Day SMA Despite US-China Trade Deal

AUD/USD Fails to Close Above 200-Day SMA Despite US-China Trade Deal

What's on this page

Australian Dollar Talking Points

AUD/USD pulls back from a fresh monthly high (0.6939) despite the US and China trade deal, and the failed attempt to close above the 200-Day SMA (0.6909) undermines the recent advance in the exchange rate amid the historical tendency around the moving average.

AUD/USD Fails to Close Above 200-Day SMA Despite US-China Trade Deal

AUD/USD fails to extend the series of higher highs and lows from the previous week even though China, Australian’s largest trading partner, averts the next wave of US tariffs.

In turn, AUD/USD may continue to give back the advance from the December low (0.6762) as the Trump administration“will be maintaining 25 percent tariffs on approximately $250 billion of Chinese imports, along with 7.5 percent tariffs on approximately $120 billion of Chinese imports.”

It remains to be seen if the tariffs will be rolled back over the coming months as “both sides have reached consensus that the US side will fulfill its commitments to phase out its additional tariffs on Chinese products,” and the ongoing shift in US trade policy may continue to influence AUD/USD as President Donald Trump tweets that the administration “will begin negotiations on the Phase Two Deal immediately, rather than waiting until after the 2020 election.”

Easing tensions may encourage the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to keep the official cash rate on hold at the next meeting on February 4, but the central bank may continue to endorse a dovish forward guidance as “the US–China trade and technology disputes continue to affect international trade flows and investment.”

Image of RBA interest rate decisions

As a result, the RBA may reiterate that “the Board is prepared to ease monetary policy further if needed,” and Governor Philip Lowe and Co. may take additional steps to insulate the economy in 2020 as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warns that “Australia is especially exposed to a deeper-than-expected downturn in China.”

Therefore,the RBA may resume its rate easing cycle over the coming months, and the central bank may continue to tread into uncharted territory as the IMF insists that “unconventional monetary policy measures such as quantitative easing may become necessary.”

With that said, the recent appreciation in AUD/USD may prove to be short lived amid the string of failed attempts to close above the 200-Day SMA (0.6909).

Sign up and join DailyFX Currency Strategist David Song LIVE for an opportunity to discuss potential trade setups.

AUD/USD Rate Daily Chart

Image of AUD/USD rate daily chart

Source: Trading View

  • Keep in mind, the AUD/USD rebound following the currency market flash-crash has been capped by the 200-Day SMA (0.6909), with the exchange rate marking another failed attempt to break/close above the moving average in July.
  • A similar scenario appears to be taking shape in December as the advance from the monthly low (0.6762) fails to produce a closing price above the simple moving average.
  • However, recent developments in the Relative Strength Index (RSI) offers a bullish signal as the oscillator breaks out of the downward trend carried over from the previous month.
  • Nevertheless, the failed run at the Fibonacci overlap around 0.6950 (61.8% expansion) to 0.6970 (23.6% expansion) has pushed AUD/USD back below the 0.6910 (38.2% expansion) region, with exchange rate now approaching the overlap around 0.6830 (23.6% expansion) to 0.6850 (78.6% expansion).
  • Need a break/close below the 0.6780 (38.2% expansion) to 0.6800 (61.8% expansion) region to bring the downside targets back on the radar, with the first hurdle coming in around 0.6720 (78.6% expansion) to 0.6730 (50% expansion).

Additional Trading Resources

Are you looking to improve your trading approach? Review the ‘Traits of a Successful Trader’ series on how to effectively use leverage along with other best practices that any trader can follow.

Want to know what other currency pairs the DailyFX team is watching? Download and review the Top Trading Opportunities for 2019.

--- Written by David Song, Currency Strategist

Follow me on Twitter at @DavidJSong.

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

DISCLOSURES