http://www.fxtimes.com Get your daily dose of Forex news from the expert analysts at FXTimes. Visitors will have access to the Forex Capsule, our interactive economic calendar, our video recaps, and up-to-date fundamental news releases and technical analysis commentaries. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:40:31 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/preview-rba-set-to-cut-interest-rates-impact-on-aud/ http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/preview-rba-set-to-cut-interest-rates-impact-on-aud/#comments Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:00:33 +0000 Nick Nasad http://www.fxtimes.com/?p=66231 http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/preview-rba-set-to-cut-interest-rates-impact-on-aud/feed/ 0 The expectations heading into the upcoming RBA interest rate decision is for the central bank to maintain a loosening bias by lowering interest rates by another 25 basis points, or 0.25%, to 4.0%. That would be the 3rd straight cut in rates from the RBA, as it tries to counter an economy that is showing a weak labor market, softer housing, flat retail sales, and concerns about the global outlook. We look at these macro developments and a look at the implications for the AUD/USD. http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/preview-australian-trade-and-building-permits-impact-on-audusd/ http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/preview-australian-trade-and-building-permits-impact-on-audusd/#comments Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:13:35 +0000 Nick Nasad http://www.fxtimes.com/?p=65894 http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/preview-australian-trade-and-building-permits-impact-on-audusd/feed/ 0 Australia's terms of trade has been a major strength for the Australian Dollar. The trade balance and building approvals data will be an important catalyst for the direction the Aussie takes during the Asian session. A positive surprise would have a positive impact on Australian equities, and can help boost the value of the AUD, while a negative surprise could help undermine the recent Aussie gains against the USD. http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/preview-chinas-jan-manufacturing-pmi-key-to-aud-sentiment/ http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/preview-chinas-jan-manufacturing-pmi-key-to-aud-sentiment/#comments Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:44:00 +0000 Nick Nasad http://www.fxtimes.com/?p=65795 http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/preview-chinas-jan-manufacturing-pmi-key-to-aud-sentiment/feed/ 0 The Chinese government's official version for the Manufacturing PMI is expected to show a month of contraction in January - albiet very slight. The risk dynamics at play are fairly straightforward. A weaker than expected reading will hurt equities, commodities, and higher yielding commodity and growth sensitive currencies like the Australia, New Zealand, and Canadian Dollars - though the AUD in particular. We preview the release and look at the AUD/USD. http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/preview-can-aussie-cpi-tip-the-scale-for-more-rba-cuts-a-look-at-audusd/ http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/preview-can-aussie-cpi-tip-the-scale-for-more-rba-cuts-a-look-at-audusd/#comments Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:56:09 +0000 Nick Nasad http://www.fxtimes.com/?p=65125 http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/preview-can-aussie-cpi-tip-the-scale-for-more-rba-cuts-a-look-at-audusd/feed/ 0 In the upcoming Asian session the Australia CPI data will be key for the AUD/USD. If the market sees a weak print, and decides that the RBA is more likely to lower rates in the 1st half of the year, that would begin to be priced in as it gives the RBA more scope to loosen policy. If inflation comes in stronger than expected, then the RBA, despite what it sees from other economic indicators may be hesitant to pull the trigger on further rate cuts. http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/preview-australia-employment-change-help-to-extend-audusd-gains/ http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/preview-australia-employment-change-help-to-extend-audusd-gains/#comments Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:08:22 +0000 Nick Nasad http://www.fxtimes.com/?p=64489 http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/preview-australia-employment-change-help-to-extend-audusd-gains/feed/ 0 As we move through the early part of 2012 one of the key themes will be whether the RBA follows up the interest-rate cuts from the 4Q of 2011 with further rate cuts in the first half of this year. If there is another soft month of job growth - flat or another month of job losses - that will increase the pressure on the RBA to lower rates yet again. A stronger report on the other hand could help solidify the AUD/USD recent move above the 1.0380 area. http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/preview-australian-gdp-what-if-scenarios/ http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/preview-australian-gdp-what-if-scenarios/#comments Tue, 06 Dec 2011 21:55:21 +0000 Nick Nasad http://www.fxtimes.com/?p=61343 http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/preview-australian-gdp-what-if-scenarios/feed/ 0 Australia's economy is expected to show another solid quarter of growth with expectations of a 1.0% increase, but that will be slower than the pace seen in the 2nd quarter. But some dampened expectations after softer government spending figures may bias this release to the downside. The AUD therefore could be vulnerable to some selling pressures, especially following the RBA rate cut yesterday. However, if the release is better than expected, than can help the AUD to strengthen. http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/preview-aus-capital-spending-private-sector-credit-rba-rate-expectations/ http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/preview-aus-capital-spending-private-sector-credit-rba-rate-expectations/#comments Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:02:31 +0000 Nick Nasad http://www.fxtimes.com/?p=60455 http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/preview-aus-capital-spending-private-sector-credit-rba-rate-expectations/feed/ 0 Today's data can give us a clearer idea of demand within the Australian economy. Capital expenditure spending is a major driving force for GDP and as a quarterly release, this is a top tier fundamental indicator for the country. A better than expected reading would increase GDP expectations, while a miss would weaken them. In addition to private sector credit and new home sales data, it will give us a better understanding of where the economy stands and what the RBA's next move may be. http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/rba-minutes-show-central-bank-considered-not-raising-rates/ http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/rba-minutes-show-central-bank-considered-not-raising-rates/#comments Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:59:19 +0000 Nick Nasad http://www.fxtimes.com/?p=58803 http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/rba-minutes-show-central-bank-considered-not-raising-rates/feed/ 0 The RBA Meeting Minutes proved to be a bit more hawkish than expected, helping to boost the Australian Dollar. Coming into the report the expectation was that the RBA may be considering lowering interest rates again before the end of the year. The bank made the case for a "modest easing" which certainly doesn't argue for another rate cut in the near term. http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/australia-adds-10-1k-jobs-in-october-rba-may-still-cut-rates-before-year-end/ http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/australia-adds-10-1k-jobs-in-october-rba-may-still-cut-rates-before-year-end/#comments Thu, 10 Nov 2011 05:56:24 +0000 Nick Nasad http://www.fxtimes.com/?p=58248 http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/australia-adds-10-1k-jobs-in-october-rba-may-still-cut-rates-before-year-end/feed/ 0 The Australian economy added 10,100 workers in October, right in line with economists expectations. The employment change is an important barometer of the Australian economy and seems to have stabilized the previous two months - with positive job growth averaging around 17,000. The RBA, after bringing rates down by 25 basis points, is expected to cut rates again before the year is out. Will the RBA meet the market's expectation? http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/preview-australian-october-employment-change-to-help-guide-rba/ http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/preview-australian-october-employment-change-to-help-guide-rba/#comments Wed, 09 Nov 2011 21:18:19 +0000 Nick Nasad http://www.fxtimes.com/?p=58223 http://www.fxtimes.com/fundamental-updates/preview-australian-october-employment-change-to-help-guide-rba/feed/ 0 After the RBA lowered rates to end October, the question is whether they will follow it up with another rate cut before the end of the year. One key metric for the central bank will the labor market. The economy, which had been adding jobs at a steady clip throughout 2009 and 2010, has seen job growth turn sideways throughout most of this year. Tonight's report on the October employment change therefore will be a key guide for the RBA on their path going forward, and therefore will be instructive for us when gauging the Aussie.