So some key things happened yesterday. 1. Quarterly GDP was released by the ABS and showed a seasonally adjusted number of 0.4% for the final quarter of 2017, which for the calendar year came in at a seasonally adjusted 2.4% annual GDP growth. While the figure can’t quite be called a shocker it was the third quarter in a row of declining GDP growth and probably therefore explains much of the reasoning behind the RBAs decision earlier in the week to hold interest rates at 1.5%. The AUD is mostly stable despite the weaker GDP numbers.
In the U.S it appears the Trump administration is hell bent on tariffs and that resulted in Gary Cohn – the chief Economic Advisor to Donald Trump – quitting yesterday in frustration and presumably to distance himself from the administration if indeed things turn sour for the U.S economy in the coming months. Trump’s White House has been a revolving door of advisers and press secretaries and this is certainly no surprise, but the fact that Cohn quit certainly rattled markets and suggests nothing will stop Trump from instigating a trade war.
Ahead today is local trade balance figures at 11.30am.
AUD EXCHANGE RATES:
AUD/USD – 0.7819
AUD/GBP – 0.5624
AUD/EUR – 0.6300
AUD/NZD – 1.0733
AUD/JPY – 82.932
USD/BTC – $9,826
COMMODITIES/EQUITIES:
All Ords (XAO) – 6,005
Gold – A$1695/oz
Silver – A$21.10/oz
WTI – US$61.26/barrel
DATA RELEASES TODAY:
AUD – Trade Balance at 11.30am
EUR – Minimum Bid Rate (Interest Rates) at 11.45pm
***Above rates are indicative wholesale rates and intended as a guide only***
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Patrick Downes
Senior Corporate FX Dealer
Phone Patrick – 0431 278 632
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