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Australian Dollar Gains As 2Q GDP Comes In Right As Expected

Australian Dollar Gains As 2Q GDP Comes In Right As Expected

David Cottle, Analyst

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Australian Dollar, Second Quarter GDP Talking Points:

  • Australian growth data came in right on the average forecast
  • It wasn’t great, but it was at least positive
  • China’s private service sector also proved resilient, AUDUSD bulls liked both

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The Australian Dollar rose Wesdnesday in response to an as-forecast set of second-quarter Gross Domestic Product figures which, while not great, did at least dispel some late suspicions of a much weaker showing.

Growth was 0.5% on the quarter, 1.4% on the year, the former being a joint-weakest showing since 1991. However, after Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison cautioned earlier this week that the numbers could be ‘soft’ the market had been braced for anything,

Relief was palpable in AUDUSD.

Australian Dollar, 5-Minute Chart

Still, it was notable that private consumption remained weak and that growth was being propped up by government spending and exports. Australia saw a very large current account surplus in the second quarter, boosted by exports of iron ore at very high prices as outages at other producers, notably Brazil, forced substitution in favor of Australia.

Ore prices have fallen sharply in recent days, and it is extremely unlikely that this former source of support will be repeated in a world where end demand for steel is in such doubt.

The Australian Dollar remains close to eleven-year lows against its US rival on the daily chart, with its latest downtrend only an extension of the overall slide seen since the end of 2018 as domestic interest rates have made a series of new record lows.

Australian Dollar Vs US Dollar, Daily Chart

The RBA declined to cut them further this week but the market still expects two further reductions in the 1% Official Cash Rate, taking it down to 0.5% by April or May next year. Inflation in Australia remains stubbornly low even as the labor market holds up.

More broadly the currency has of course been hit by worries about global growth as it is perhaps the global markets’ favorite ‘risk on’ currency play. As recession fears have grown the Aussie has clearly lost out to perceived haven asserts like the Japanese Yen.

Data released just after the Australian growth figures showed that China’s private service sector expanded quite strongly last month. August’s Caixin service Purchasing Managers Index hit a three-month high of 52.1, exceeding the surprise strength seen earlier this week in the manufacturing equivalent.

This survey is certainly running ahead of the official PMI. That is much gloomier. It is possible that the Caixin variant focuses more on domestically focused business which is less hard-hit by tariffs and trade war fears generally.

AUDUSD remained close to session highs after the data.

Australian Dollar Resources for Traders

Whether you’re new to trading or an old hand DailyFX has plenty of resources to help you. There’s our trading sentiment indicator which shows you live how IG clients are positioned right now. We also hold educational and analytical webinars and offer trading guides, with one specifically aimed at those new to foreign exchange markets. There’s also a Bitcoin guide. Be sure to make the most of them all. They were written by our seasoned trading experts and they’re all free.

--- Written by David Cottle, DailyFX Research

Follow David on Twitter @DavidCottleFX or use the Comments section below to get in touch!

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

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