AUD/USD: No Change In Trend

 | Feb 12, 2016 07:43AM ET

No change in trend

The Australian dollar declined as the global stocks rout started following the selloff in China’s stock market since the new year. The Reserve Bank of Australia didn’t cut the interest at its policy meeting. Will the Australian dollar continue weakening?

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) refrained from cutting the interest rate from 2.0% at its February 2 policy meeting. The central bank stated the economy is adjusting to falling demand for its commodity exports with China’s economy slowing down, and investment falling consequently, particularly in mining sector. GDP growth in 2015 was below average. At the same time it noted the expansion in non-mining sector of economy and signs of improvement in lending to businesses, employment and business conditions. Given declining oil prices, subdued growth in wages and restrained inflation in the world, policy makers expect inflation will likely remain low over the year. They deemed the monetary policy accomodative enough for continued growth and didn’t find it necessary to ease further via another rate cut, which supported the Australian dollar. However with exports accounting for 20% of GDP and China’s economy slowing down to a “new normal" of slower growth, lower commodity prices will continue weighing on Australian dollar. With commodity import demand from China expected to decline as its economy slows, growth in non-mining sectors of Australia’s economy will be the driver of its GDP growth in 2016, ultimately determining the strength of the currency.