AUD/USD Soften as US Inflation Surges and Fed Tightens Stance

Finance News

AUD/USD Soften as US Inflation Surges and Fed Tightens Stance
AUD/USDAustralian DollarUS Dollar
  • 📰 FXStreetNews
  • ⏱ Reading Time:
  • 98 sec. here
  • 12 min. at publisher
  • 📊 Quality Score:
  • News: 74%
  • Publisher: 72%

The Australian Dollar (AUD) dipped on Thursday, losing 0.30% to 0.6265, despite weakness in the US Dollar (USD). The pair remained below the key 0.6300 level as traders digested higher-than-expected US inflation data and Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell's cautious testimony before Congress.

The Australian Dollar (AUD) experienced a slight decline of 0.30% on Thursday, settling at 0.6265. Despite a softening in the US Dollar (USD), the AUD/USD pair remained below the significant 0.6300 level. This downward movement occurred amidst a backdrop of cautious market sentiment as traders evaluated recent US inflation data and Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell's testimony before the US Congress.

Recent US inflation data revealed a stronger-than-anticipated increase, with the headline Consumer Price Index (CPI) rising 0.5% month-over-month (MoM) compared to a forecast of 0.3% and the core CPI jumping 0.4%, exceeding expectations. This development reinforced the Fed's hawkish stance and provided support to the USD. Furthermore, Fed Chair Powell's cautious remarks during his second congressional testimony emphasized the Fed's independence and commitment to its inflation target of 2%. He acknowledged that inflation progress had slowed but reiterated the central bank's priority to achieve price stability.On the Australian front, softer fourth-quarter (Q4) CPI data indicated a headline inflation rate of around 2.5% year-over-year (YoY), down from 2.8%, while the trimmed mean CPI fell to a three-year low of 3.2%. These figures fueled market expectations for a 25 basis point reduction in the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) interest rate in February. However, ongoing trade tensions with China continue to exert downward pressure on the AUD. Despite a recent rebound in commodity prices, sluggish business activity in China remains a concern for the Australian economy. Meanwhile, the USD has regained strength due to persistent risk aversion and anticipation of tighter monetary policy from the Fed, limiting further upside potential for the AUD/USD pair.Technically, the AUD/USD pair has encountered resistance at the key 0.6300 level, indicating persistent selling pressure. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) stands at 55, suggesting that while there is some buying interest, momentum remains subdued. Conversely, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) histogram displays rising green bars, hinting at a gradual building of bullish momentum. With support around 0.6200 and resistance near 0.6300, traders are closely monitoring upcoming US economic data and RBA signals to gauge the next directional move for AUD/USD.

We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

FXStreetNews /  🏆 14. in US

AUD/USD Australian Dollar US Dollar Inflation Federal Reserve Reserve Bank Of Australia Trade Tensions Iron Ore Commodity Prices

United States Latest News, United States Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

AUD/USD Plunges as US Dollar Soars on Global Risk Aversion and Fed UncertaintyAUD/USD Plunges as US Dollar Soars on Global Risk Aversion and Fed UncertaintyThe Australian Dollar (AUD) weakened significantly against the US Dollar (USD) on Tuesday, dropping below 0.6250, due to a combination of global risk aversion and anticipation of the Federal Reserve's (Fed) policy decision. A sell-off in technology stocks following DeepSeek's successful development of an affordable AI model, coupled with uncertainty surrounding US President Donald Trump's tariff agenda and the Fed's monetary policy outlook, fueled a surge in the US Dollar.
Read more »

AUD/USD Surges on US Dollar Weakness, Australian Jobs Report in FocusAUD/USD Surges on US Dollar Weakness, Australian Jobs Report in FocusThe Australian Dollar (AUD) gained for a third consecutive day, surpassing the 0.6200 level against the US Dollar (USD) after the US CPI release failed to surprise markets. The focus now shifts to the upcoming Australian jobs report. Despite facing challenges from a strong US Dollar, slowing domestic fundamentals, and China's economic slowdown, the AUD is showing signs of recovery.
Read more »

AUD/USD finds cushion near 0.6270 as US Dollar loses groundAUD/USD finds cushion near 0.6270 as US Dollar loses groundThe AUD/USD pair recovers some intraday losses after sliding to near 0.6270 in Monday’s European session, but is still down almost 0.2%.
Read more »

AUD/USD Stumbles at 0.6300 as US Dollar Faces HeadwindsAUD/USD Stumbles at 0.6300 as US Dollar Faces HeadwindsThe Australian Dollar (AUD) recovered slightly against the US Dollar (USD) after previously declining to 0.6200, but remains pressured by a strengthening Greenback. The US Dollar's initial gains fueled by tariff announcements have faded, leaving the AUD/USD pair struggling to break through the key 0.6300 level. Domestically, the RBA is considering a possible interest rate cut in February to combat slowing economic growth and easing inflation. The AUD's outlook remains mixed, with potential support from the Federal Reserve's (Fed) rate cut signals and headwinds from a strong USD, China's economic slowdown, and falling commodity prices.
Read more »

AUD/USD: Aussie Struggles to Break Above 0.6300 Amid US Dollar Strength and Global UncertaintyAUD/USD: Aussie Struggles to Break Above 0.6300 Amid US Dollar Strength and Global UncertaintyThe Australian Dollar (AUD) continues its erratic performance, failing to breach the key 0.6300 level against the US Dollar (USD). The USD maintains its upward trajectory, supported by rising US yields and lingering uncertainty surrounding President Trump's trade policies. While the AUD finds some respite from the recent retreat in the Greenback, concerns about a slowing Australian economy, China's recovery, and mixed commodity prices weigh on its prospects.
Read more »

AUD/USD Rebounds Above 0.6200 as US Dollar Surrenders Gains Amid Trade TensionsAUD/USD Rebounds Above 0.6200 as US Dollar Surrenders Gains Amid Trade TensionsThe AUD/USD pair jumped above 0.6200, driven by a decline in the US Dollar's risk premium following Trump's tariff postponement on Canada and Mexico. Despite this, the ongoing trade war concerns with China, as China retaliates with its own tariffs, continue to weigh on the Australian Dollar's outlook.
Read more »



Render Time: 2025-02-16 07:05:31