A very busy week expects Aussie traders: a rate decision, the GDP release and 11 more events will shake the Australian dollar. Here’s an outlook for the Australian events and an updated technical analysis for AUD/USD.
AUD/USD graph with support and resistance lines marked. Click to enlarge:
The Australian dollar enjoyed a significant recovery this week, finally dropping the Euro’s weight on the global markets. The crowded Australian calendar means that this trend will continue. Let’s start:
- HIA New Home Sales: Publication time unknown at the moment. Australia’s Housing Industry Association finally provided a stable change in the number of newly constructed homes last month. The rise of 0.9% followed a drop of 5.2% and a rise of 9.5% beforehand. The forecast is for a small rise that will help the Aussie.
- MI Inflation Gauge: Published on Monday at 12:30 GMT. Melbourne Institute’s inflation gauge completes the gap that the government leaves by releasing the CPI figures only once per quarter. Prices have risen by 0.4% last month, and this modest rise will probably be repeated.
- Current Account: Published on Monday at 1:30 GMT. Although this figure lags the related trade balance release, this quarterly figure still has a strong impact on currencies. Australia’s deficit rose to 17.5 billion in Q4, and is now expected to show a smaller deficit of 16.4 billion.
- Private Sector Credit: Published on Monday at 1:30 GMT. Businesses and consumers increased their credit by 0.5% last month, a higher rate than in previous months, indicating economic expansion. Forecasts stand on a 0.5% rise.
- AIG Manufacturing Index: Published on Monday at 23:30 GMT. The Australia Industry Group showed a big improvement in the manufacturing sector last month – this PMI-like figure rose to 59.8, a level unseen since the beginning of the global crisis. The 200 manufacturers that are surveyed for this indicator will probably show a drop, but a figure above 50 – more economic expansion.
- Chinese Manufacturing PMI: Published on Tuesday at 1:00 GMT. Australia’s main trade partner is expected to show a similar score this time – 55.5 points. Any leap or drop in this major Chinese indicator will rock the Aussie as well.
- Retail Sales: Published on Tuesday at 1:30 GMT. After a big drop two months ago, consumers increased their spending once again – sales volume rose by 0.3% and is expected to rise by the same scale once again.
- Building Approvals: Published on Tuesday at 1:30 GMT and overshadowed by retail sales. After two months of big drops, this major housing sector gauge leaped by 15.3%. This volatile indicator will probably show another correction – to the downside this time, with a drop of 4.9%.
- Rate decision: Published on Tuesday at 4:30 GMT. After two surprising rate hikes, Glenn Stevens’ RBA is expected to pause before another rate hike. The hikes succeeded in cooling down the housing sector, and the global turmoil in May create a consensus that Australia’s Cash Rate will remain at 4.5%. There are no other forecasts for this Australian rate decision.
- Commodity Prices: Published on Tuesday at 6:30 GMT. Australia’s commodity oriented economy saw a big year-over-year jump in prices last month – 29.4%. It’s hard to tell where prices will go this time, making the release more important this time. On one hand, gold reached new highs, but oil prices slumped.
- GDP: Published on Wednesday at 1:30 GMT. The Australian economy, that never experienced an official recession, is expected to show slower growth in Q1 – only 0.6%, after a strong 0.9% rise last time. This major indicator will shake the markets, no matter the outcome.
- AIG Services Index: Published on Thursday at 23:30 GMT. The second release from AIG is different. Contrary to the manufacturing sector, Australia’s services sector returned to expansion just last month, following three months of contraction. The index rose above 50 to 52.3 points. A similar score is predicted this time.
- Trade Balance: Published on Thursday at 1:30 GMT. This figure relates to April. Forecasts are positive this time. Australia is expected to see a drop in its deficit – from 2 billion to 770 million. This significant change will probably boost the Aussie.
AUD/USD Technical Analysis
The Aussie challenged the 0.8066 support line once again, but bounced off it and began a rally. After struggling with the 0.8240 resistance line, it rose up to 0.8550 before closing at 0.8477.
The current range for AUD/USD is between the minor resistance line of 0.8477, which was a strong line of resistance last year, and with 0.8240 which had a similar role.
Looking down, strong support is found at 0.8066, a line that was added on last week’s outlook. Further below, 0.7860 was a support line back in July 2009, and it’s followed by the important support line of 0.77. AUD/USD fell off this line with a big gap at the height of the financial crisis. Lower, 0.7450 is the line the Aussie fell to in those dark days.
Looking up, 0.8567, which provided support for many months, is now a strong resistance line. It’s followed by 0.88, that also was a line of support, and with 0.90, which is also a round psychological number.
Higher, 0.9135 supported the Aussie before the big collapse. It’s followed by 0.9327, which was a line of resistance lots of times in recent months.
I am bullish on AUD/USD.
The Aussie returned to enjoy its strong fundamentals, and take less hits from risk aversive trading. This busy week should provide more fuel for the Aussie to rise.
Further reading:
- For a broad view of all the week’s major events worldwide, read the forex weekly outlook.
- For the Euro/Dollar, look into the EUR USD Forecast.
- For the British Pound (sterling), read the GBP/USD forecast.
- For the New Zealand dollar (kiwi), read the NZD/USD forecast.
- For USD/CAD (loonie), check out the Canadian dollar forecast.
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