AUD/USD: Stronger Currency Concerns Reserve Bank Of Australia

 | Feb 27, 2017 08:20AM ET

The head of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Philip Lowe said on Friday that he prefers a weak Australian dollar. Investors assume that RBA may undertake some measures to devaluate the national currency. Will Australian dollar edge lower?

The currency surged 7% since the start of 2017, mainly on stronger iron ore and metals prices. They account for about 27% of Australian export. The prices of iron ore are being at their 2-1/2-year high now. They rose twofold since the start of 2016. AUD/USD may also fall in case of downward price correction. Now the rate of the RBA is being at historical low of 1.5%. This is much higher than in other developed countries. The next RBA meeting will take place on March 7, 2017, no rate change is expected. Previously the rate was cut in last August.

Theoretically, this may happen again if real economic indicators in Australia differ a lot from the target levels. RBA believes that inflation shall accelerate to 2-3% per year from the current 1.5%. Australian GDP shall rise 3% this and next year. Investors believe that the economy will grow 2.8% in 2017 and 3.2% in 2018.

Next Tuesday the current account balance and share of exports in GDP for Q4 2016 will come out. On Wednesday the Q4 GDP and on Thursday the trade balance for January will come out. These indicators may strongly affect the Australian dollar. Most forecasts are positive. The national currency may depreciate a lot in case the real indicators fall short of expectations.