Australian Dollar falls as US jobs data dampen expectations of a Fed rate cut
- The Australian Dollar declines against the US Dollar as solid labor market data weaken hopes of Fed rate cuts.
- The House of Representatives has passed President Trump's "one, big, beautiful" tax bill and sent it to him for signing into law.
- The US Nonfarm Payrolls came in at 147,000 new jobs added in June, exceeding the expected 110,000.
The Australian Dollar (AUD) extends its losses against the US Dollar (USD) on Friday, as stronger-than-expected US job growth and a surprise drop in the unemployment rate data overshadow investors' hopes for a Federal Reserve (Fed) interest rate cut.
The US Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) report took center stage on Thursday, as it fell on a shortened week in observance of the US Independence Day. However, markets appear more focused on the broader trend, with political and fiscal concerns deterring investors. Although strong jobs numbers might typically support the US Dollar and put downward pressure on the AUD/USD pair.
Traders will likely observe the upcoming monthly household spending indicator from Australia, due later in the day. The focus will shift toward the Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) monetary policy meeting next week. Markets broadly anticipate a 25 basis point rate cut, which would lower the cash rate to 3.60%.
Australian Dollar declines against US Dollar following labor market data
- The US Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the value of the US Dollar against six major currencies, is trading lower at around 97.00 at the time of writing.
- US President Donald Trump's “one, big, beautiful” tax bill was passed by the House of Representatives and sent to Trump to be signed into law.
- NFP indicated that the US labor force grew by 147,000 jobs, surpassing the anticipated 110,000 in June. Additionally, the Unemployment Rate declined to 4.1% from 4.2%. Meanwhile, weekly Jobless Claims fell to 233,000, down from 237,000, reflecting a resilient US labor market.
- US ADP Employment Change fell for the first time in more than two years in June. The private-sector payrolls decreased by 33,000 in June after a downwardly revised 29,000 gain in May. This figure came in below the market consensus of 95,000.
- US ISM Manufacturing PMI advanced to 49.0 from 48.5 in May, coming in above experts' expectations of 48.8. The readings indicated that economic activity in the United States (US) manufacturing sector improved in June. Meanwhile, US JOLTS Job Openings rose to 7.76 million in May, compared to 7.395 million reported in April. This figure came in above the market expectation of 7.3 million.
- In Australia’s close trading partner, China, Caixin Services PMI declined to 50.6 in June from 51.1 in May, missing the market forecast of 51.0. China's Caixin Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index improved to 50.4 in June from 48.3 in May, according to the latest data released on Tuesday. The reading surpassed the market forecast of 49.0.
- Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported that trade surplus narrowed to 2,238M month-over-month in May, against 5,091M expected and 4,859M (revised from 5,431M) in April. Meanwhile, Exports fell by 2.7% MoM from -1.7% (revised from -2.4%) prior. Imports increased by 3.8% MoM, against the previous increase of 1.6% (revised from 1.1%).
- The S&P Global Australia Composite Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) climbed to 51.6 in June from the previous reading of 50.5. The reading has marked a ninth successive month of growth and the fastest pace since March. Meanwhile, Services PMI rose to 51.8 from 50.6 prior, indicating the fastest pace of expansion since May 2024.
- The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) showed that Retail Sales rose 0.2% month-over-month in May, compared to a flat 0% in April (revised from -0.1%). The reading came in below the market expectations of 0.4%. Meanwhile, Building Permits rose by 3.2% in May, as compared to the previous decline of 4.1%, but fell short of the expected 4.8% increase.
- Australia’s S&P Global Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell to 50.6 in June from the previous 51.0. The output declined to its lowest reading since February due to adequate client inventories and weaker market conditions, data showed on Tuesday.
Australian Dollar remains below eight-month highs near 0.6600
AUD/USD is trading around 0.6570 on Friday. The technical analysis of the daily chart suggests a prevailing bullish bias as the pair moves upwards within the ascending channel pattern. The 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) remains above the 50 mark, reinforcing the bullish sentiment. Additionally, the pair stays above the nine-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA), suggesting that short-term price momentum is stronger.
On the upside, the AUD/USD pair could retest the eight-month high of 0.6590, which was marked on July 1. A successful breach above this level could support the pair to test the upper boundary of the ascending channel around 0.6660.
The nine-day EMA at 0.6553 appears as the primary support. A break below this level would weaken the short-term price momentum and put downward pressure on the AUD/USD pair to test the lower boundary of the ascending channel around 0.6500, aligned with the 50-day EMA at 0.6470.
AUD/USD: Daily Chart
Australian Dollar PRICE Today
The table below shows the percentage change of Australian Dollar (AUD) against listed major currencies today. Australian Dollar was the weakest against the Japanese Yen.
| USD | EUR | GBP | JPY | CAD | AUD | NZD | CHF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD | -0.00% | 0.02% | -0.14% | -0.05% | 0.11% | -0.03% | -0.06% | |
| EUR | 0.00% | 0.05% | -0.10% | -0.02% | -0.01% | -0.04% | -0.02% | |
| GBP | -0.02% | -0.05% | -0.16% | -0.07% | -0.04% | -0.09% | -0.07% | |
| JPY | 0.14% | 0.10% | 0.16% | 0.09% | 0.11% | 0.03% | -0.02% | |
| CAD | 0.05% | 0.02% | 0.07% | -0.09% | 0.01% | -0.02% | 0.00% | |
| AUD | -0.11% | 0.01% | 0.04% | -0.11% | -0.01% | -0.08% | -0.03% | |
| NZD | 0.03% | 0.04% | 0.09% | -0.03% | 0.02% | 0.08% | 0.02% | |
| CHF | 0.06% | 0.02% | 0.07% | 0.02% | -0.00% | 0.03% | -0.02% |
The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the Australian Dollar from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the US Dollar, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent AUD (base)/USD (quote).
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.
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