AUD/USD posts modest gains above 0.6300 as Trump tariffs fuel recession fears
- AUD/USD trades with mild gains near 0.6330 in Friday’s early Asian session.
- The US ISM Services PMI dropped to 50.8 in March, weaker than expected.
- China threatens retaliation after Trump hits it with a total of 54%, the highest US tariff on any country.
The AUD/USD pair edges higher to around 0.6330 during the early Asian session on Friday. The US Dollar (USD) weakens against the Australian Dollar (AUD) as US President Donald Trump's fresh trade tariffs stoke fears of a global recession. Traders will closely monitor the US Nonfarm Payrolls data from March, which will be released later on Friday.
Worries about the impact of an escalating global trade war and a slew of weaker-than-expected US data raise the fear of a sharp global economic slowdown, which drags the USD lower broadly. Data released by the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) on Thursday showed that the US Services Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) eased to 50.8 in March from 53.5 in February. This reading came in lower than the estimation of 53.0.
The Trump administration on Wednesday announced that the US will impose a 10% baseline tariff on all imports to the United States (US). China was hit hard, facing a tariff of at least 54% on many goods. Chinese authorities threaten retaliation after Trump hits it with the highest US tariff on any country. This, in turn, might exert some selling pressure on the China-proxy Aussie, as China is the major trading partner to Australia.
However, the encouraging Chinese economic data might help limit the AUD’s losses. China’s Caixin Services PMI improved to 51.9 in March from 51.4 in February. This figure came in stronger than the 51.6 expected.
Australian Dollar FAQs
One of the most significant factors for the Australian Dollar (AUD) is the level of interest rates set by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA). Because Australia is a resource-rich country another key driver is the price of its biggest export, Iron Ore. The health of the Chinese economy, its largest trading partner, is a factor, as well as inflation in Australia, its growth rate and Trade Balance. Market sentiment – whether investors are taking on more risky assets (risk-on) or seeking safe-havens (risk-off) – is also a factor, with risk-on positive for AUD.
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) influences the Australian Dollar (AUD) by setting the level of interest rates that Australian banks can lend to each other. This influences the level of interest rates in the economy as a whole. The main goal of the RBA is to maintain a stable inflation rate of 2-3% by adjusting interest rates up or down. Relatively high interest rates compared to other major central banks support the AUD, and the opposite for relatively low. The RBA can also use quantitative easing and tightening to influence credit conditions, with the former AUD-negative and the latter AUD-positive.
China is Australia’s largest trading partner so the health of the Chinese economy is a major influence on the value of the Australian Dollar (AUD). When the Chinese economy is doing well it purchases more raw materials, goods and services from Australia, lifting demand for the AUD, and pushing up its value. The opposite is the case when the Chinese economy is not growing as fast as expected. Positive or negative surprises in Chinese growth data, therefore, often have a direct impact on the Australian Dollar and its pairs.
Iron Ore is Australia’s largest export, accounting for $118 billion a year according to data from 2021, with China as its primary destination. The price of Iron Ore, therefore, can be a driver of the Australian Dollar. Generally, if the price of Iron Ore rises, AUD also goes up, as aggregate demand for the currency increases. The opposite is the case if the price of Iron Ore falls. Higher Iron Ore prices also tend to result in a greater likelihood of a positive Trade Balance for Australia, which is also positive of the AUD.
The Trade Balance, which is the difference between what a country earns from its exports versus what it pays for its imports, is another factor that can influence the value of the Australian Dollar. If Australia produces highly sought after exports, then its currency will gain in value purely from the surplus demand created from foreign buyers seeking to purchase its exports versus what it spends to purchase imports. Therefore, a positive net Trade Balance strengthens the AUD, with the opposite effect if the Trade Balance is negative.