No market surprises with Australian trade balance
The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported the balance on goods rose to A$7.13 billion on Thursday, up from A$6.2 billion the previous month, which was broadly in line with market forecasts.
Exports edged up 0.4%, helped by an increase in iron ore and other metals, while imports fell 1.9, led by a drop in industrial transport equipment.
(AI Video Transcript)
Australia's trade balance on goods
The latest numbers on Australia's trading situation reveal some interesting trends. In October, the country's trade balance on goods increased to 7.13 billion Australian dollars, which is higher than the previous month. This was expected by experts. On the export front, there was a small increase of 0.4%, driven by higher exports of iron ore and other metals. On the other hand, imports decreased by 1.9%, mainly due to a drop in the import of industrial transport equipment.
AUD/USD
Now let's take a look at the exchange rate between the AUD and the USD. In the morning, there was a tiny increase of 0.04% in the value of the Australian dollar compared to the US dollar. However, earlier it had actually been slightly lower and has been under pressure to be sold for the past four days, with only a brief previous increase. In fact, currently, the exchange rate is at the lowest point it has been in over two weeks.
The Federal Reserve
Traders in the market are eagerly awaiting the release of jobless claims data from the US on Friday. This information has the potential to impact the plans of the Federal Reserve and influence the demand for the US dollar. If the jobless claims data suggest a strong job market, it could strengthen the US dollar and affect the exchange rate between the Australian and US dollars.
In summary, the economic data from Australia shows a positive trade balance, with exports increasing and imports decreasing. This is largely due to more metal exports and less import of industrial transport equipment. On the currency side, the Australian dollar has experienced some ups and downs against the US dollar, but currently, it is at a low point. Traders are eagerly anticipating the release of US jobless claims data, which could have an impact on the Federal Reserve's policies and ultimately influence the demand for the US dollar, potentially affecting the exchange rate between the Australian and US dollars.
This information has been prepared by IG, a trading name of IG Markets Limited. In addition to the disclaimer below, the material on this page does not contain a record of our trading prices, or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instrument. IG accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of these comments and for any consequences that result. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Consequently any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk. Any research provided does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and needs of any specific person who may receive it. It has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such is considered to be a marketing communication. Although we are not specifically constrained from dealing ahead of our recommendations we do not seek to take advantage of them before they are provided to our clients.
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