Australian Dollar advances on growing RBA rate hike bets
- Australian Dollar gains support from growing expectations of an RBA rate hike in March.
- RBA’s Hauser said oil price volatility and Middle East tensions pose a genuine challenge for central banks.
- The US Dollar may recover amid rising safe-haven demand.
AUD/USD extends its winning streak for the fourth successive session, trading around 0.7130 during the Asian hours on Wednesday. The pair advances as the Australian Dollar (AUD) gains support from growing expectations of a Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) rate hike next week.
RBA Deputy Governor Andrew Hauser said on Tuesday that volatility in oil prices and tensions in the Middle East pose a genuine challenge for central banks. Hauser added that the policy response depends on the magnitude and persistence of the price shock, which remains highly uncertain. He also noted that the Australian economy is in relatively good shape, with recent data indicating the economy has limited spare capacity.
Australia’s headline inflation stands at 3.8% and may exceed 4% as petrol prices rise, while core inflation remains at 3.4%, above the RBA’s 2–3% target band.
The AUD/USD pair also advances as the US Dollar (USD) edges lower after posting modest gains in the previous session. The Greenback may regain its ground amid increased safe-haven demand, which could be attributed to mounting uncertainty over the Middle East conflict.
US President Donald Trump said late Monday that the conflict could end soon. However, US officials indicated on Tuesday that military operations were intensifying and that there were limited prospects for diplomatic negotiations, Reuters reported.
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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