The Australian dollar continues to gain momentum: the AUD/USD pair confidently overcame the key mark of 0.7000 and consolidated in the middle of the 70th figure. For two days, the pair shows a nearly recoilless growth, returning lost positions. It is noteworthy that the aussie turned 180 degrees after the July meeting of the RBA, at which the regulator lowered the interest rate and allowed a further easing of monetary policy. Such an abnormal market reaction is primarily associated with the general weakening of the US currency. In addition, the aussie continues to receive support from domestic data and the commodity market - in particular, the cost of iron ore continues to stay above $100 per ton.
And yet the main driving force behind the growth of AUD/USD is a weak greenback. After the unjustified euphoria, which was associated with the outcome of the G20 summit, a regular "hangover" gradually ensues, aggravated by loud statements by top White House officials. The essence of their comments comes down to the fact that, firstly, relief from Washington is more of a formal nature - for example, Chinese technology giant Huawei remains on the United States' blacklist, despite certain concessions processors).
Secondly, the very fact of the truce is under a big question mark - after all, a non-aggression pact was concluded rather than an armistice agreement in Osaka. Today, the White House announced a meeting between US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Chinese Deputy Prime Minister Liu He, which will clear the future prospects for the negotiation process. Washington did not say exactly when this meeting will take place, but noted that it will occur "in the near future."
In general, the initial optimism of traders was replaced by concern and uncertainty that another attempt to find a compromise will be crowned with success. Similar doubts from investors have background pressure on the US dollar. To one degree or another, this also affects the US currency's postions in dollar pairs. Weak macroeconomic reports in the US only exacerbate the position of the greenback. The slowdown is demonstrated by both key and secondary economic indicators.
Take, for example, the latest releases: an indicator of consumer confidence in the US, an indicator of growth in orders for durable goods, a report on the labor market from ADP, regional indicators of production activity — all of these indicators came out in the red zone, not reaching weak forecast levels. Almost every day, US statistics disappoint investors to some extent, and today is no exception. Thus, activity in the service sector slowed to 55.1 points - this is the weakest result since July 2017. The extremely low influx of new orders (this component of the indicator updated a 2.5-year low) caused a decline in employment in this area, having a mediated effect on the overall slowdown in the US labor market.
Experts have previously warned that the service sector will begin to slow down after the manufacturing sector, and now, apparently, these predictions are beginning to materialize. By the way, the indicator of production orders published today came out at the lowest values since the summer of 2016. The indicator is actively decreasing for the second consecutive month, and the May indicator was revised downward (-1.2% instead of the previous -0.8%). This fundamental picture does not allow the dollar to develop to feel comfortable, even with continued demand. And together with the Australian dollar, the greenback is losing its position at the expense of the aussie's "independent" growth.
The Australian dollar won back a decline in the interest rate by 0.25% and after the announcement of the expected decision, it began to recover throughout the market. Although Philip Lowe did not rule out further easing of monetary policy, the market focused on current events, pulling up the aussie. First, the strategically important raw material for Australia - iron ore - continues to grow. To date, the cost of a ton of this raw material is already $124 (for comparison, in April this figure was in the level of $80). Secondly, due to the growth in the value of exports of iron ore, Australia recorded a growth in the trade surplus by 16.2% to $4 billion in May compared with April. Judging by the price dynamics of iron ore, the June figures will exceed the May results. High demand for this type of raw materials from Chinese steel mills only confirms this assumption.
Thus, despite the RBA's dovish position, AUD/USD buyers use the market's current situation to their advantage. Uncertain positions of the US currency against the background of a substantial growth in the commodity market makes it possible for the aussie to open new price horizons. The first resistance level is the mark 0.7060 - this is the upper line of the Bollinger Bands indicator on the daily chart. When it is overcome, the Ichimoku trend indicator will form a bullish "Parade of lines" signal, which will open the way for AUD/USD bulls to the next resistance level of 0.7180 (the top line of the Bollinger Bands indicator is already on the weekly chart). Support is the aussie's key for a 0.7000 mark.
The material has been provided by InstaForex Company - www.instaforex.com