FOREX.com by StoneX logo

AUDUSD suppressed but for how much longer - Part II

Last week the Federal Reserve commenced its first-rate hiking cycle since December 2018, against perhaps the most challenging macroeconomic backdrop it has ever faced.

Global Author
Global Author

Share this:

AUDUSD suppressed but for how much longer- Part II

The Fed is attempting to negotiate persistently high inflation, a full-scale war in Europe, sanctions, price shocks in commodities, COVID, supply chains, and trade uncertainties on de-globalization and de-carbonization.

Historically in a normal fed rate hike cycle, the U.S dollar falls by approximately 3.5-4% in the six months post the first Federal Reserve rate hike. Just 48 hours after last week’s FOMC meeting, material U.S dollar weakness was evident across various currency pairs.

USDSEK finished the week 4.5% below where it was pre the FOMC meeting. At the same time, the AUDUSD rallied over 2% to cement its first close above .7400c in 19 weeks.

However, the recovery in the AUDUSD has not just been a U.S dollar story. As noted here last week Australia's Terms of Trade recently surpassed the Global Financial Crisis peak to trade at a record high, boosted by elevated commodity prices.

The favourable Terms of Trade shock one of the reasons behind our long AUDUSD trade idea when we suggested to buy “weakness in the AUDUSD into the .7180/.7170 support region with a stop loss placed below .6975. The target would be the .7555 high from October 2021.”

The AUDUSD has since made good initial progress to the .7555 profit target aided by short-covering from the trend following community who have held near-record levels of AUDUSD shorts since October.

According to the latest IMM update for the week ending March 15th, the trend following community cut almost 33k contracts. However, they remain short 44k AUDUSD contracts.

As can be viewed on the chart below, the AUDUSD is now testing resistance .7425/45 coming from the trendline from off the February 2021 .8006 high and the early March .7441 high.

A break/close above .7425/45 would see the AUDUSD extend its rally towards the .7555 profit target. To protect against possible AUDUSD upside failure, we advise lifting the stop loss from .6975 to just below the 200 day moving average at .7280.   

AUDUSD DAILY CHART 21ST OF MARCH

Source Tradingview. The figures stated areas of March 21st, 2022. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. This report does not contain and is not to be taken as containing any financial product advice or financial product recommendation

 

How to trade with City Index

You can trade with City Index by following these four easy steps:

  1. Open an account, or log in if you’re already a customer 

    • Open an account in the UK
    • Open an account in Australia
    • Open an account in Singapore

  2. Search for the company you want to trade in our award-winning platform 
  3. Choose your position and size, and your stop and limit levels 
  4. Place the trade

The Fed is attempting to negotiate persistently high inflation, a full-scale war in Europe, sanctions, price shocks in commodities, COVID, supply chains, and trade uncertainties on de-globalization and de-carbonization.

Historically in a normal fed rate hike cycle, the U.S dollar falls by approximately 3.5-4% in the six months post the first Federal Reserve rate hike. Just 48 hours after last week’s FOMC meeting, material U.S dollar weakness was evident across various currency pairs.

USDSEK finished the week 4.5% below where it was pre the FOMC meeting. At the same time, the AUDUSD rallied over 2% to cement its first close above .7400c in 19 weeks.

However, the recovery in the AUDUSD has not just been a U.S dollar story. Last week Australia's Terms of Trade recently surpassed the Global Financial Crisis peak to trade at a record high, boosted by elevated commodity prices.

The favourable Terms of Trade shock one of the reasons behind our long AUDUSD trade idea when we suggested to buy “weakness in the AUDUSD into the .7180/.7170 support region with a stop loss placed below .6975. The target would be the .7555 high from October 2021.”

The AUDUSD has since made good initial progress to the .7555 profit target aided by short-covering from the trend following community who have held near-record levels of AUDUSD shorts since October.

According to the latest IMM update for the week ending March 15th, the trend following community cut almost 33k contracts. However, they remain short 44k AUDUSD contracts.

As can be viewed on the chart below, the AUDUSD is now testing resistance .7425/45 coming from the trendline from off the February 2021 .8006 high and the early March .7441 high.

A break/close above .7425/45 would see the AUDUSD extend its rally towards the .7555 profit target. To protect against possible AUDUSD upside failure, we advise lifting the stop loss from .6975 to just below the 200 day moving average at .7280. 

AUDUSD DAILY CHART 21ST OF MARCH

Source Tradingview. The figures stated areas of March 21st, 2022. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. This report does not contain and is not to be taken as containing any financial product advice or financial product recommendation

 

The complete CFD trading experience

Award-winning platforms, competitive spreads, low commissions and dedicated support.

We live and breathe the markets and are dedicated to helping traders realise their ambitions as we continue to set the industry bar.

Economic calendar

Web Trader platform

Our sophisticated web-based platform is packed with features.

Related articles

StoneX Europe Ltd may make third party material available on this website which may contain information included but not limited to the conditions of financial markets. The material is for information purposes only and does not contain, and should not be construed as containing, investment advice and/or investment recommendation and/or an investment research and/or an offer of or solicitation for any transactions in financial instruments; any decision to enter into a specific transaction shall be made by the client following an assessment by him/her of their situation.

StoneX Europe Ltd makes no representation or warranty and assumes no liability as to the accuracy or completeness of the information provided, nor any loss arising from any investment based on a recommendation, forecast or other information supplied. You should always seek independent advice as to your suitability to speculate in any related markets and your ability to assume the associated risks, if you are at all unsure. We are not under any obligation to update any such material. Any opinion made may be personal to the author and may not reflect the opinion of StoneX Europe Ltd.

It's your world. Trade it.