RBA back in the same boat as the FOMC despite higher inflation

Australia inflation increased to 0.8% QoQ in Q2 from 0.6% in Q1.  However, the continued persistence of the Delta variant in Australia remains a worry.  Although Melbourne has just come out of a 5 Day lockdown, Sydney remains in lockdown indefinitely.  Therefore, the RBA will be less concerned with inflation and more concerned with monetary stimulus.  The RBA meets next week and after decreasing the amount of weekly bond purchases from A$5 billion to A$4 billion at the previous meeting, the central bank may have to reverse course and actually begin buying once again to help support the economy. 

Australian Dollar explained

On the same day the Australia released its CPI, the US FOMC met. (See our complete FOMC recap here).   Despite the Fed statement saying that progress has been made towards goals for tapering, the press conference told a completely different story.  Chairman Powell said that “we’re some ways away from substantial progress on jobs.”  He noted that they look at several metrics when looking at jobs data, but he also said that the 5.9% Unemployment Rate is too high. Hence, the asset purchase program will continue at the current pact of $120 billion per month for the foreseeable future. 

Everything you need to know about the Federal Reserve

AUD/USD had been selling off since mid-June after breaking convincingly below the neckline to 2 Head and Shoulders patterns (with the same neckline). The target for a head and shoulders pattern is the height from the head to the neckline, added to the breakdown point below the neckline, which was near 0.7745.  AUD/USD easily reached the target for the second Head and Shoulders pattern near 0.7560 and paused near the 200 Day Moving Average.  Price consolidated in a pennant formation and broke lower on June 28^th.  The target for the pennant is the length of the pennant “pole”, added to the breakdown point, which is near 0.7340.  In addition, the target for the larger head and shoulders pattern is 0.7265.  AUD/USD reached a low of 0.7289 on July 21^st.  Price is sitting on horizontal support. Could this be a bottom for AUD/USD?

Source: Tradingview, FOREX.com

On a 240-minute timeframe, price is consolidating in a downward sloping channel as it tests the upper trendline, as well as the upper trendline of the consolidation triangle (red).  However, if price moves higher there is immediate horizontal resistance at 0.7409, ahead of the 200 Day Moving Average at 0.7589 (see daily).  Above there, horizontal resistance isn’t until 0.7645.  Support below is at the bottom trendline of the triangle near 0.7325, then the lows of July 21^st at 0.7290.  Below there is horizontal support at 0.7240 (see daily).

Source: Tradingview, FOREX.com

AUD/USD was moving lower as markets were hopeful that the US Fed would be hinting at tapering soon.  However, given today’s dovish press conference after the FOMC meeting and the possibility of new bond buying from the RBA, there’s a chance AUD/USD could reverse and move higher.

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