### Summary
The Australian dollar has weakened significantly against the US dollar, euro, and British pound due to factors such as the US economy's strength, China's weak economic rebound, and a shift in the link between commodity prices and the Australian dollar.
### Facts
- The Australian dollar has reached its lowest level against the US dollar since the global financial crisis in 2009.
- The dollar has also reached its lowest level against the euro since the global financial crisis.
- The value of the Australian dollar against the pound is at its weakest since the Brexit poll.
- The US dollar's strength and expectations of a higher interest rate have contributed to the Australian dollar's weakness.
- China's weak economic rebound and deflation concerns have also affected the Australian dollar.
- The link between commodity prices and the Australian dollar has become less reliable recently.
- The trajectory of Shanghai's top 300 companies share index may indicate the future of the Australian dollar.
- A weaker Australian dollar benefits export industries and overseas visitors, while importers may face challenges.
- A tumbling dollar could support economic growth through increased exports and reduced imports.
📉 The Australian dollar is at its lowest against major currencies since the global financial crisis.
🇺🇸 The US dollar's strength and expectations of a higher interest rate contribute to the Australian dollar's weakness.
🇨🇳 China's weak economic rebound and deflation concerns affect the Australian dollar.
📉 The link between commodity prices and the Australian dollar has become less reliable.
📈 A weaker Australian dollar benefits export industries and overseas visitors.
### Summary
Food prices are increasing globally due to drought conditions, disrupted grain deliveries, and government policies to protect their own supplies. The rising prices are driven by concerns over the enduring effects of a warming climate on production and the possibility of high food prices becoming embedded in the economy. Supermarket profits have increased, but this does not help mitigate the rising costs for consumers.
### Facts
- Wheat prices spiked and then retraced due to Russian missile strikes on Ukrainian ports and disrupted grain exports.
- Erratic weather is depleting rice harvests in India, leading to a ban on rice exports and increasing the risk of higher global prices.
- Food prices in Australia have remained steep, with dairy and breads/cereals leading the price increases.
- Food prices have risen steeply in the UK and France, while prices in the US have increased at a slower pace.
- High global food prices pose a risk of creating an inflationary spiral and are beyond the influence of central banks.
- Australian supermarkets have increased profit margins during the inflationary period, but deny profiteering.
- While the extent of price rises may not be as bad as last year, there will still be an impact on near-term inflation and consumer purchasing power.
🌾 Wheat prices spiked due to Russian missile strikes on Ukrainian ports and disrupted grain exports
🌦️ Erratic weather is depleting rice harvests in India, leading to a ban on rice exports and increasing the risk of higher global prices
🥛 Food prices in Australia remain steep, with dairy leading the price increases
🌍 Food prices have risen steeply in the UK and France, while prices in the US have increased at a slower pace
💰 High global food prices pose a risk of creating an inflationary spiral and are beyond the influence of central banks
🛒 Australian supermarkets have increased profit margins during the inflationary period but deny profiteering
💸 While the extent of price rises may not be as bad as last year, there will still be an impact on near-term inflation and consumer purchasing power.
### Summary
Economists and the Reserve Bank of Australia are determined to combat inflation, but their focus on wage increases as the cause of inflation overlooks the pricing power of large firms and the lack of competition in the market.
### Facts
- Economists argue that businesses raise prices in response to market forces, not out of greed.
- However, the rapid rise in prices is often perpetuated by workers and their unions demanding higher wages to keep up with the cost of living.
- The solution proposed is for workers to accept a small pay rise and for interest rates to be raised to put pressure on workers with mortgages.
- The Reserve Bank believes that a rise in the unemployment rate by 1 percentage point to 4.5% would help bring down inflation.
- An increase in competition between small firms is needed to make the price mechanism work as intended, but oligopolies dominate many industries in Australia.
- While other countries have recognized rising profit margins as a cause of inflation, the Australian government has dismissed this analysis.
### Opinion
- The focus on wage increases as the main cause of inflation overlooks the pricing power of large firms and the lack of competition in the market.
- Strengthening laws defending competition is necessary to fix inflation.
### Summary
NatWest expects further downside for the Australian dollar (AUD) due to weak Chinese economic activity, lack of significant policy response, and potential rate hikes by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA).
### Facts
- 💪 Higher long-end rates, relative US growth outperformance, sticky front-end Fed pricing, and August seasonals are all factors supporting the US dollar (USD).
- 💼 Incremental stimulus from Chinese authorities may not be enough to halt the fall of AUD, especially with a slowing global growth and lack of FX reaction to China's monetary policy easing.
- 📉 The NWM China Stress Index indicates a further slowing of economic conditions in China.
- 🏗️ Demand for construction-related activities outside of China may fade in the coming months due to higher borrowing costs and reduced steel demand outlook for the US and Europe.
- 📉 Australian employment declined in July, but it's too early to assess the strength of the labor market based on one month of weak data.
- 💰 The increase in prices raises questions about whether CPI inflation in Australia will fall back to the target range.
- 💼 The RBA has retained the optionality for further rate hikes, but weakness in data complicates future rate hikes.
- 🌍 Overall weakness in the Chinese economy will continue to weigh on AUD, but major policy response/stimulus from Chinese authorities could pose a risk to the bearish view on AUD.
- 💼 One more rate hike by the RBA may not be enough to support AUD considering the weakness in China.
Australia is preparing for the impact of China's economic downturn, which will lead to lower exports, reduced investment, and a decline in tourism, potentially causing a slowdown in Australia's economic growth.
The US Dollar performed well against major currencies, with the British Pound, Euro, and Canadian Dollar underperforming, while the Chinese Yuan and Australian Dollar fared better; the Federal Reserve's indication of a higher terminal rate and potential further borrowing cost increases contributed to the market sentiment, leading to lower US equity markets; upcoming economic data includes consumer confidence, inflation gauges from key European countries, and manufacturing PMI gauges from China.
Asia-Pacific markets set to rise following tech rally on Wall Street, Australian inflation numbers anticipated, and the U.S. dollar reaches its highest level against the yen in 2023.
Australia's inflation slowed to a 17-month low in July due to declines in holiday travel and fuel prices, leading to expectations that the Reserve Bank of Australia will pause its rate hikes, signaling a potential end to tightening measures.
The US Dollar experienced a significant decline due to weak economic data and increased risk appetite, while the Euro and British Pound strengthened. The Australian Dollar and New Zealand Dollar also performed well, and gold and cryptocurrencies rallied.
The US dollar experienced a major technical reversal due to a weaker JOLTs report, leading to a drop in US interest rates, while market positioning played a role in the price action; the focus now shifts to personal consumption figures and US jobs data, with the euro and sterling firm but most other G10 currencies softer, and emerging market currencies mixed. In Asia, most large bourses advanced, but Europe's Stoxx 600 fell after rallying in previous sessions, while US index futures traded softer; European bonds are selling up, gold is consolidating, and oil prices are firm. Australia's CPI slowed more than expected, China is expected to release the August PMI, and Japan reports July retail sales. The US dollar has seen no follow-through selling against the yen, yuan, or Australian dollar, while the euro and sterling staged impressive price action. The JOLTS report saw the dollar and US rates reverse lower, and today the US reports advanced merchandise trade figures for July, with the Canadian dollar as the worst performing G10 currency yesterday.
The U.S. is currently experiencing a prolonged high inflation cycle that is causing significant damage to the purchasing power of the currency, and the recent lower inflation rate is misleading as it ignores the accumulated harm; in order to combat this cycle, the Federal Reserve needs to raise interest rates higher than the inflation rate and reverse its bond purchases.
The dollar rose as investors sought the safe-haven currency amidst concerns over global growth, particularly in China, while the Australian dollar slumped after the Reserve Bank of Australia maintained interest rates.
The Australian dollar declined against the US dollar as the Australian economy slowed in Q2, indicating that the Reserve Bank of Australia may not raise interest rates further.
Australia's economy grew more than expected in the second quarter, driven by exports and investment, while household consumption remained weak due to high interest rates; however, productivity and rising labor costs remain concerns for the Reserve Bank of Australia.
The U.S. dollar's share in global reserves has fallen below 60% for the first time in decades, as other currencies like the Euro, Pound, and Yen are on the rise due to a growing number of countries settling trade in their national currencies, driven by the de-dollarization process initiated by BRICS to end reliance on the U.S. dollar.
The US Dollar performed strongly against major currencies, with the Euro experiencing its 8th consecutive weekly loss and the Chinese Yuan performing poorly, while global market sentiment was negative and stock markets weakened. In the coming week, market focus will be on the US inflation report, UK employment and GDP data, Australian employment data, and the ECB rate decision.
Asia-Pacific markets rise despite higher-than-expected inflation in the US, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 increases as August unemployment numbers match forecasts.
Australia's labor market may have peaked as the unemployment rate hovers around historic lows, leaving little room for improvement and potentially opening the door for further job losses, which could negatively impact the Australian Dollar (AUD) that has already been weakening due to slowing Chinese demand. Economists expect an increase in jobs for August, but there is potential for a downside surprise and a second consecutive month of declines.
The impact of a potential economic downturn in China will be felt in Australia through weakened trade and reduced risk appetite in financial markets, according to Australian regulators.
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Australia's inflation for August met expectations, with core inflation easing further, reducing pressure on the central bank to raise interest rates next month.
Gold and silver prices are weaker due to chart-based selling and bearish outside market elements, including a strong U.S. dollar index and high U.S. Treasury yields, while risk appetite is low due to concerns about a possible U.S. government shutdown; however, China's upbeat economic news suggests potential stabilization, and Australia's consumer price inflation has increased.
The strength of the US dollar and rising bond yields are causing gold prices to fall to their lowest level since March, with some analysts predicting that the bearish momentum could push prices down further to their 2023 lows at $1,810 in the spot market.
The Australian share market and broader economy are facing multiple threats, including rising interest rates, cracks in China's property sector, diminishing demand for construction materials, rising oil prices, and global fallout from the US political divide over debt levels, which could potentially result in substantial damage. There are concerns over a potential recession in the US, Australia, and the UK, with investors on edge due to recent volatility in equity markets and the inversion of the yield curve. Uncertainty and mixed signals in the market are leaving investors unsure about the future direction.
Fuel prices in Australia are rising, which could contribute to an increase in quarterly inflation, leading to concerns about the future of oil and the reliance on fossil fuels as efforts to reduce carbon emissions continue.
The Australian government predicts that global commodity prices will decrease, leading to lower earnings from commodity exports despite expected increases in volume.
The Australian dollar is attempting to recover against the US dollar due to softening US jobs data, but traders remain cautious ahead of tomorrow's NFP report which could increase volatility; technical analysis shows a potential for further upside.
The Singapore dollar may face pressure as the country's economy weakens and investors seek the safety of the US dollar, according to analysts, potentially leading to a drop in the currency's rankings against its Asian counterparts.
Younger Australians may face significant job losses as a result of efforts to curb inflation, particularly in the retail industry, which could disproportionately impact millennials and Gen Z who are already grappling with rising costs and limited financial stability.
The dollar’s status as the world's reserve currency is at risk unless the US controls its spending, warns bond market expert Jeffrey Gundlach. High interest rates and the growing US debt could lead to out-of-control inflation and jeopardize the future of the US dollar.
Australia's unemployment rate fell to 3.6% in September, raising the possibility of an interest rate increase by the Reserve Bank of Australia in November.
The latest data is expected to show that fuel prices in Australia rose by more than 7% in the three months to the end of September, adding a quarter of a percentage point to inflation due to global factors such as the war in Ukraine, supply constraints, and the weaker Australian dollar. The conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Middle East may further increase prices.
Australian inflation was unexpectedly strong in the third quarter due to broad-based and persistent cost pressures, increasing the likelihood of an interest rate hike as early as next month.