AUD/USD is trading around 0.6550 at the time of writing on Monday, virtually unchanged as the market digests a batch of mixed US data and awaits key Australian news. The pair remains locked in an indecisive phase, reflecting relative weakness in both the Australian dollar (AUD) and the US dollar (USD).
The pressure on the dollar remains in the background, investors continue to increase the price of va Federal Reserve System The (Fed) cut rates at its December meeting. The chance of a 25 basis point easing is above 80%, reinforcing the view that US monetary policy is moving towards an easing cycle. However, this expectation is shaped by Monday’s mixed macroeconomic signals from the United States (US).
The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) reported a sharper deterioration in manufacturing conditions in the US. The ISM Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) fell to 48.2 in November from 48.7 in October, beating the forecast of 48.6. Examining the details, the new orders index fell to 47.4, marking the third straight month of declines, while the employment index fell to 44, indicating weakening momentum in the labor market. The only firmer component was the Price Paid Index, which rose to 58.5, signaling continued cost pressures.
In contrast, S&P Global US Manufacturing PMI painted a more constructive picture, rising to 52.2 from 51.9 and marking the fourth straight month of expansion. The survey pointed to a solid rise in manufacturing and further gains in employment, although demand growth slowed and export orders fell for a fifth straight month. The difference between the two surveys keeps uncertainty high about the true state of the US manufacturing sector.
On the Aussie side, the Aussie remains under pressure following a disappointing Chinese manufacturing PMI which fell to 49.9 in November. As China is Australia’s largest trading partner, any decline in Chinese manufacturing activity tends to weigh directly on the Australian dollar.
Investors now await Wednesday’s Q3 Australian gross domestic product (GDP) release, with markets expecting a slightly faster growth rate compared to the previous quarter, a potential source of support for the AUD if the data surprises to the upside.
Australian dollar price today
The table below shows today’s percentage change in the Australian Dollar (AUD) against the major listed currencies. The Australian dollar was strongest against the British pound.
| USD | EUR | GBP | JPY | CAD | AUD | NZD | CHF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD | -0.19% | 0.10% | -0.62% | 0.07% | -0.03% | 0.05% | 0.03% | |
| EUR | 0.19% | 0.30% | -0.34% | 0.26% | 0.16% | 0.24% | 0.22% | |
| GBP | -0.10% | -0.30% | -0.64% | -0.04% | -0.14% | -0.06% | -0.08% | |
| JPY | 0.62% | 0.34% | 0.64% | 0.62% | 0.51% | 0.59% | 0.57% | |
| CAD | -0.07% | -0.26% | 0.04% | -0.62% | -0.10% | -0.03% | -0.05% | |
| AUD | 0.03% | -0.16% | 0.14% | -0.51% | 0.10% | 0.08% | 0.06% | |
| NZD | -0.05% | -0.24% | 0.06% | -0.59% | 0.03% | -0.08% | -0.02% | |
| CHF | -0.03% | -0.22% | 0.08% | -0.57% | 0.05% | -0.06% | 0.02% |
The heat map shows the percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is selected from the left column, while the quote currency is selected from the top row. For example, if you select the Australian dollar from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the US dollar, the percentage change shown in the box will be AUD (base)/USD (rate).
