AUDUSD Post-Fed Rally May Be Shot Down by RBA as Japanese Yen Sinks

Asia Pacific Market Open Talking Points

• AUDUSD post-Fed gains may be shot down by RBA Governor

• Anti-risk Japanese Yen may sink if Nikkei 225 echoes S&P 500

• GBP and CAD rally after solid UK and Canadian inflation data

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The pro-risk Australian and New Zealand Dollars struggled picking up upside momentum after the markets fully priced in a July Fed rate cut in the aftermath of Junes hold. There was a general increase in risk appetite, with the S&P 500 rallying as US front-end government bond yields dropped alongside the US Dollar. Yet, a clear message from the central bank signalling an imminent interest rate cut seemed notably absent.

Rather, the updated Fed dot plot revealed that - compared to March - there was a downgrade in median forecasts for rates by the end of 2020. Those now stand at 2.125% compared to 2.625% prior, a downgrade of 50 basis points which reflects one rate hike being priced out and one cut now put on the table. The same forecasts envision holding rates unchanged by year-end, with one vote separating that from perhaps 2 cuts.

AUDUSD Technical Analysis

The near-term AUDUSD downtrend was cut short above the January 2016 low at 0.6827. Leading up to this outcome, positive RSI divergence hinted of fading downside momentum which can precede a turn higher or a pause in recent declines. Prices were unable to sustain gains above August 2015 lows at 0.6900 and it is too early to tell if there may be a near-term reversal on the cards.

AUDUSD Daily Chart

*Chart Created in TradingView

Meanwhile, the GBPUSD and USDCAD rose for their own fundamental developments. The latest round of UK CPI and PPI data helped firm hawkish Bank of England monetary policy expectations. Meanwhile, better-than-expected Canadian inflation numbers cooled near-term BoC rate cut anticipations.

Asia Pacific Thursday Session

Early into Thursdays Asia Pacific trading session, the New Zealand Dollar is aiming sharply higher against its major counterparts after domestic first quarter GDP data surprised to the upside. There may be more room for gains to be had for the pro-risk currency as equities trade upward in the aftermath of the FOMC. S&P 500 futures are pointing cautiously higher.

As for the similarly-behaving Australian Dollar, gains could be reversed on an upcoming speech from RBAGovernorPhilip Lowe. He may continue to underpin the case for near-term rate cuts, sapping the Aussies appeal from a yield perspective. Meanwhile, the anti-risk Japanese Yen could weaken if the Nikkei 225 follows Wall Street to the upside.