Australian Dollar Declines Amid Market Caution

The Australian Dollar (AUD) edged lower against the US Dollar (USD) on Thursday, though the AUD/USD pair experienced minor gains as the USD softened slightly with a modest dip in US Treasury yields. The AUD might find some support from the hawkish tone surrounding the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA).

RBA Deputy Governor Andrew Hauser highlighted the country’s robust labor participation rate earlier this week and emphasized that while the RBA bases decisions on data, it is not excessively data-dependent.

The USD has strengthened as markets closely watch the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) interest rate trajectory, with expectations rising that the Fed may be less aggressive in cutting rates than initially anticipated. Additionally, the USD is buoyed by speculation about former President Donald Trump’s potential second term in the upcoming US presidential election. Traders are likely to keep an eye on Friday’s US Durable Goods Orders and Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index reports.

During an event in Las Vegas on Thursday, Republican nominee Donald Trump used his well-known catchphrase, pledging to “build an economy that lifts up all Americans,” with a particular focus on supporting minority communities, as reported by Reuters.

Daily Digest Market Movers: Australian Dollar Down Ahead of US Presidential Election

According to the CME FedWatch Tool, there is a 97% probability of a 25-basis-point Fed rate cut in November, with little expectation of a 50-basis-point reduction. Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris drew support from high-profile figures, including Bruce Springsteen and former President Barack Obama, at a rally in Georgia, a critical battleground state.

Recent S&P Global data shows positive US economic momentum. The October Composite PMI rose to 54.3 from 54.0, while the Services PMI beat expectations at 55.3, and Manufacturing PMI improved to 47.8. In Australia, Judo Bank’s Composite PMI slightly rose to 49.8 in October, showing continued contraction in private sector output. Services PMI inched up to 50.6, while the Manufacturing PMI fell further to 46.6.

The Fed’s Beige Book on Wednesday described economic activity as “little changed,” a shift from August’s report, which indicated growth in some districts. San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly and Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari both commented on stable economic conditions, with Kashkari suggesting that any rate cuts will be gradual.

In China, the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) reduced both the 1-year and 5-year Loan Prime Rates, which could boost demand for Australian exports. Additionally, National Australia Bank has moved forward its RBA rate cut projection to February 2025, expecting gradual reductions to reach 3.10% by early 2026.

Technical Analysis: AUD/USD Hovering Near Two-Month Low

The AUD/USD pair is trading around 0.6640, near a two-month low. Technical indicators reveal a short-term bearish trend, with the pair staying below the nine-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) and the 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) under 50, signaling bearish sentiment.

The pair is testing support at 0.6614, with a significant support level at the psychological 0.6600 mark. On the upside, resistance is expected at the nine-day EMA of 0.6672, followed by the 50-day EMA at 0.6724, with a break above potentially leading toward the 0.6800 level.