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Trading the News: Australia Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
Australia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) report may fuel the recent weakness in AUD/USD as the growth rate is expected to slow to 2.8% from 3.1% during the first three-months of 2018.
Signs of a less-robust economy may encourage the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to keep the official cash rate (OCR) at the record-low throughout the remainder of the year, and the central bank may continue to tame bets for higher borrowing-costs especially as ‘once-off declines in some administered prices in the September quarter are expected to result in headline inflation in 2018 being a little lower.’
In turn, a marked slowdown in economic activity may produce headwinds for the Australian dollar as the RBA sticks to a wait-and-see approach, but another above-forecast GDP print may curb the recent weakness in AUD/USD as it puts pressure on Governor Philip Lowe & Co. to start normalizing monetary policy. Sign up and join DailyFX Junior Currency Analyst Daniel Dubrovsky LIVE to cover the updates to Australia’s GDP report.
Impact that the Australia GDP report has had on AUD/USD during the previous quarter
|
Period |
Data Released |
Estimate |
Actual |
Pips Change (1 Hour post event ) |
Pips Change (End of Day post event) |
|
1Q 2018 |
06/05/2018 01:30:00 GMT |
2.8% |
3.1% |
-13 |
-28 |
1Q 2018Australia Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
AUD/USD 15-Minute Chart
Updates to Australia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) report showed the growth rate increasing 3.1% per annum during the first three-months of 2018 following the 2.4% expansion in the fourth-quarter of the previous year. The above-forecast print may encourage the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to adopt an improved outlook for the region, but the central bank appears to be in no rush to lift the official cash rate off (OCR) of the record-low as ‘the low level of interest rates is continuing to support the Australian economy.’
Nevertheless, the better-than-expected GDP report sparked a limited reaction, with AUD/USD pulling back from the 0.7650 region to close the day at 0.7616. Learn more with the DailyFX Advanced Guide for Trading the News.
AUD/USD Daily Chart
- Keeping a close eye on the monthly opening range, but the broader outlook for AUD/USD remains tilted to the downside as both price & the Relative Strength Index (RSI) track the downward trends from earlier this year; a move below 30 in the oscillator raising the risk for a further decline in the exchange rate as it suggests the bearish momentum is gathering pace.
- Need a close below the 0.7180 (61.8% retracement) to 0.7230 (61.8% expansion) region to open up the next downside hurdle around 0.7090 to 0.7110 (78.6% retracement).
Additional Trading Resources
New to the currency market? Want a better understanding of the different approaches for trading? Start by downloading and reviewing the DailyFX Beginners Guide!
Are you looking to improve your trading approach? Review the ‘Traits of a Successful Trader’ series on how to effectively use leverage along with other best practices that any trader can follow.
— Written by David Song, Currency Analyst
Follow me on Twitter at @DavidJSong.
