Australian Dollar
Expected Range 0.7420 – 0.7520
The Australian dollar continued its upward path when valued against its US Counterpart on Wednesday after a report from China showed imports contracted a much slower pace than many had expected during the month of May. Indicating that the selective stimulus measures adopted by Chinese Policy makers have worked in the near-term, the price of base metals rose across the board in line with signs of firming consuming and industrial demand from the world’s second largest economy. With the US Dollar suffering further weakness, the Aussie tracked to a high just shy of the 0.7500 mark versus the Greenback overnight, consolidating those gains opening stronger at a rate of 0.7487. On the agenda today Consumer and Producer Price Indexes from China remain set to be the main driving force.
New Zealand Dollar
Expected Range 0. 7050 – 0.7130
Triggering a notable rise in the value of New Zealand’s dollar, the Kiwi has pushed towards levels in excess of the 71 US Cents mark this morning after the Reserve Bank of New Zealand announced that it would be leaving the official cash rate unchanged at 2.25 percent during the month of June. Whilst market participants had previously priced in a 75 percent chance that no cut would be forthcoming the accompanying statement was also perceived to be slightly less dovish than many had expected. In line with an improving global outlook economists have re-positioned rate forecasts expecting now just the one cut for the remainder of this year. Softening since its early push above the 71 US Cents mark, the New Zealand dollar still opens notably stronger as it currently swaps hands at a rate of 0.7090.
Great British Pound
Expected Range 1.9310 – 1.9420
In what’s been a volatile week of trade for the Great British Pound, the Sterling initially pushed higher late yesterday afternoon after a report showed Manufacturing Production advanced by 2.3 percent during April, comfortably exceeding the consensus forecast. Briefly touching a high of 1.4607 when valued against its US Counterpart the move to higher ground has proven to be short lived with the Sterling weaker, currently trading at a rate of 1.4508. With resistance clearly ahead corresponding with yesterday’s high, consolidation levels are being earmarked at 1.4470. In other moves the Sterling is weaker versus the Aussie (1.9363) and the Kiwi (2.0452).
Majors
Expected Range N/A
The US dollar has fallen for a fourth consecutive session overnight, a shift mainly in line with Fed expectations which have trended lower throughout this week. Touching its lowest point in more than five weeks when valued against a basket of currencies, a strong performance across the commodities space has also seen monies flow elsewhere most notably into higher yielding growth linked units. In news flows overnight only a second tier jobs report was on offer showing that job openings in April remained little changed ahead of a weekly report on jobless claims tonight. In what is likely to see conditions neutralise towards the back end of this week before Janet Yellens Policy statement next Wednesday, moves over the past five-days brings into clear focus just how closely linked the Greenback’s value is to perceptions over monetary policy. Opening weaker versus the Yen at 107.025 the US dollar is marginally higher versus the Euro (1.1394).