Investing.com – Last week saw the Australian dollar end the week close to a 4-month high against its U.S. counterpart, boosted by robust domestic employment data and strong Chinese economic reports.
AUD/USD hit 0.9276 on Thursday, the pair’s highest since April 30; the pair subsequently consolidated at 0.9263 by the close of trade on Friday, soaring 1.18% over the week.
The pair is likely to find support at 0.9091, the low of September 7, and resistance at 0.9323, the high of April 30.
On Thursday, official Australian data showed that the country’s unemployment rate declined more-than-expected in August, falling to 5.1%, after rising to 5.3% in July.
Analysts had expected Australia’s unemployment rate to fall to 5.2% in August.
Meanwhile, official Chinese data released on Friday showed that a slowdown in the world's second largest economy might be less severe than expected, as imports grew more-than-expected.
In the week ahead, markets will be looking towards Thursday's weekly report on U.S. initial jobless claims. Attention will also focus on government data on the country’s federal budget balance as well as key data on manufacturing activity in New York and Philadelphia.
Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of Australia is due to publish both its quarterly bulletin as well as its annual report, providing a summary of the prior year's operations.
Ahead of the coming week, Investing.com has compiled a list of these and other significant events likely to affect AUD/USD.
Monday, September 13
The U.S. will start the week by releasing its federal budget balance, the difference in value between the federal government's incomes and spending during the previous month.
Tuesday, September 14
The U.S. will release key data on retail sales, a leading gauge of consumer spending. The country will also release data on business inventories.
Meanwhile, the National Australia Bank is to release a report on Australian business confidence.
Wednesday, September 15
In the U.S., the Federal Reserve Bank of New York is due to release key data on manufacturing sector activity, while the Federal Reserve is to produce information on its capacity utilization rate, the percentage of available resources being utilized by manufacturers, mines and utilities.
The U.S. is also due to release key data on import prices, industrial production and crude oil inventories.
Elsewhere, Australia is due to produce key data on new motor vehicle sales, housing starts and consumer sentiment.
Thursday, September 16
The U.S. is to release key weekly data on initial jobless claims, after which the U.S. Treasury is to publish a report on TIC Long-Term purchases, which measures the difference in value between foreign long-term securities purchased by U.S. citizens and U.S. long-term securities purchased by foreigners.
Later in the day, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia is due to release key data on the manufacturing. The U.S. is also to produce data on the country's current account and producer price index, a leading indicator of consumer inflation.
Meanwhile, Australia is to release key data on inflation expectations, while the Reserve Bank of Australia is due to publish both its quarterly bulletin as well as its annual report, providing a summary of the prior year's operations.
Friday, September 17
The U.S. is to end the week by producing key data on its consumer price index, while the University of Michigan is to release revised data on consumer sentiment and inflation expectations.
Also Friday, the Reserve Bank of Australia’s Assistant Governor Philip Lowe is expected to speak at the NatStats 2010 Conference in Sydney.
AUD/USD hit 0.9276 on Thursday, the pair’s highest since April 30; the pair subsequently consolidated at 0.9263 by the close of trade on Friday, soaring 1.18% over the week.
The pair is likely to find support at 0.9091, the low of September 7, and resistance at 0.9323, the high of April 30.
On Thursday, official Australian data showed that the country’s unemployment rate declined more-than-expected in August, falling to 5.1%, after rising to 5.3% in July.
Analysts had expected Australia’s unemployment rate to fall to 5.2% in August.
Meanwhile, official Chinese data released on Friday showed that a slowdown in the world's second largest economy might be less severe than expected, as imports grew more-than-expected.
In the week ahead, markets will be looking towards Thursday's weekly report on U.S. initial jobless claims. Attention will also focus on government data on the country’s federal budget balance as well as key data on manufacturing activity in New York and Philadelphia.
Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of Australia is due to publish both its quarterly bulletin as well as its annual report, providing a summary of the prior year's operations.
Ahead of the coming week, Investing.com has compiled a list of these and other significant events likely to affect AUD/USD.
Monday, September 13
The U.S. will start the week by releasing its federal budget balance, the difference in value between the federal government's incomes and spending during the previous month.
Tuesday, September 14
The U.S. will release key data on retail sales, a leading gauge of consumer spending. The country will also release data on business inventories.
Meanwhile, the National Australia Bank is to release a report on Australian business confidence.
Wednesday, September 15
In the U.S., the Federal Reserve Bank of New York is due to release key data on manufacturing sector activity, while the Federal Reserve is to produce information on its capacity utilization rate, the percentage of available resources being utilized by manufacturers, mines and utilities.
The U.S. is also due to release key data on import prices, industrial production and crude oil inventories.
Elsewhere, Australia is due to produce key data on new motor vehicle sales, housing starts and consumer sentiment.
Thursday, September 16
The U.S. is to release key weekly data on initial jobless claims, after which the U.S. Treasury is to publish a report on TIC Long-Term purchases, which measures the difference in value between foreign long-term securities purchased by U.S. citizens and U.S. long-term securities purchased by foreigners.
Later in the day, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia is due to release key data on the manufacturing. The U.S. is also to produce data on the country's current account and producer price index, a leading indicator of consumer inflation.
Meanwhile, Australia is to release key data on inflation expectations, while the Reserve Bank of Australia is due to publish both its quarterly bulletin as well as its annual report, providing a summary of the prior year's operations.
Friday, September 17
The U.S. is to end the week by producing key data on its consumer price index, while the University of Michigan is to release revised data on consumer sentiment and inflation expectations.
Also Friday, the Reserve Bank of Australia’s Assistant Governor Philip Lowe is expected to speak at the NatStats 2010 Conference in Sydney.