Switzer Daily
What to watch over the next week…
13 July 2021
Australian economic data was mostly good. Home
building approvals fell sharply again in May reflecting the end of HomeBuilder
but they remain strong and their lagged rise points to a further increase in
dwelling construction. Retail sales were revised up in May and even if they
fall -1% in June on the back of the lockdowns are on track for a strong June
quarter rise. Meanwhile, payrolls are up 3.4% on pre-coronavirus levels and ANZ
job ads rose another 3% in June. Finally, the Melbourne Institute’s Inflation
Gauge points to a pickup in inflation in the June quarter but nothing like this
Aussie steady at start of week
February 1, 2021SharePrint
The Australian dollar has posted small losses on Monday. Currently, AUD/USD is trading at 0.7628, down 0.13% on the day. AUD/USD enjoyed its best week since October, with gains of just under 1 percent.
Australian numbers were mixed at the start of the week. The Melbourne Institute Inflation Gauge, which tracks inflation on a monthly basis, slowed to 0.2% in January, falling to a 3-month low. There was better news from Commodity Prices, which jumped 19.7%, its highest level since August 2017.
China released its PMI reports, which pointed to slower activity in January. The Manufacturing PMI fell to 51.3, down from 51.9. The Non-Manufacturing PMI showed a deeper slide, falling from 55.7 to 52.4, which was a 10-month low. The PMIs remain in expansionary territory, with readings above the neutral 50 level, but a resurgence in Covid-19 in China has led to slower expansion for the Asian giant. That could mean trouble for the Aust
Switzer Daily
19 January 2021
Australian economic data was strong,
with a rise in the ABS’ measure of job vacancies for November to above their
pre-Covid level consistent with an ongoing recovery in employment, housing
finance surging to a new record high consistent with an ongoing recovery in
house prices and retail sales confirmed at up 7% in November. Of course, this
is all before the latest Covid scare and resultant mini-lockdowns in late
December/January but so far these don’t appear to have dramatically impacted
economic activity based on our Economic Activity Tracker as consumer confidence
has held up reasonably well and growth in credit and debit card transactions
Aussie slides despite sharp retail sales
January 11, 2021SharePrint
The Australian dollar has started the new trading week with sharp losses. AUD/USD is currently trading at 0.7685, down 0.91% on the day. The Aussie finds itself in the unusual position of being on a mini-slide, as the US dollar is finally showing some signs of life.
US yields boost dollar
Solid Australian data on Monday could not stem the Aussie’s slide against the US dollar. On the inflation front, the Melbourne Institute Inflation Gauge rose 0.5% in December, up from 0.3 per cent. The reading marked a 5-month high, pointing to stronger economic activity. Retail sales jumped 7.1% in November, an almost identical gain to the previous release of 7.0%. This strong reading edged above the forecast of 7.0%.