Australian Dollar Lower ahead of Monetary Policy Minutes

Key Movers

The Australian dollar having enjoyed a brief early morning rally moved lower through trade on Monday nearing one month lows and touching 0.7848. With little domestic data on hand to drive direction the AUD succumb to renewed USD strength and an uptick in risk appetite as investors’ fears eased in the wake of lessening brusque bombast between Trump and Pyongyang. As the war of words dissipated over the weekend markets looked to correct the run on Safe Havens and sold down JPY and CHF holdings to buy back into stocks and the US dollar forcing the Aussie toward key technical supports at 0.7830/50. Opening this morning at 0.7853 attentions now turn to the RBA’s meeting minutes and U.S retail sales for direction through Tuesday.    


The New Zealand dollar slipped back below 0.73 U.S cents through trade on Monday as investors unwound safe haven plays and bought back into stocks and the US dollar. Tensions between the US and North Korea appeared to have eased over the weekend with the war of words that plagued markets last week abating, prompting markets to sell down JPY and CHF holdings. Having touched intraday highs at 0.7322 following stronger than anticipated retail sales the NZD shifted lower as risk appetite returned and markets looked to correct the recent greenback sell off. Touching intraday lows at 0.7286 attentions remain with geopolitical developments and U.S retail sales for direction through Tuesday. 


The USD was one of the best performing currencies overnight as movements were seen out of safe haven currencies as geopolitical risk waned. The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) was up 0.38% at the time of writing as both Japanese Yen and Swiss Francs lost ground against the Greenback. The U.S Dollar also saw gains as Fed Reserve Bank of New York President William Dudley was more hawkish on monetary policy as he is still supportive of another hike this year along with the trimming of the current balance sheet in September. The Euro saw selling pressure to start the week, falling through support at 1.1800 to finish the North American session at 1.1775. Bids were favoured higher on the USD/JPY cross after recovering from last week losses, seeing intraday highs of 1.0978. With major markets in Europe observing a public holiday, movements are expected to be light heading into United States Retail sales.