News bites from across the world

In the aftermath of its September monetary policy meeting, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has made a steadfast decision, opting to maintain the Official Cash Rate (OCR) at the anticipated rate of 4.10%. The RBA’s announcement comes as no surprise to industry observers and financial market participants who had widely expected this decision.

In the immediate aftermath of the RBA’s resolute stance, market dynamics came into play, prompting a swift reaction in the AUD/USD currency pair. The pair, which initially nosedived in response to the central bank’s decision, witnessed intraday lows, bottoming out at 0.6417, before staging a partial recovery to reach the 0.6428 mark, where it presently hovers. This abrupt movement reflects a daily decline of 0.50% in the currency pair.

Currently, the AUD/USD pair finds itself languishing at five-day lows, stubbornly positioned beneath the psychological threshold of 0.6450. This persistent weakness in the Australian dollar can be attributed to the resilient performance of the US Dollar, which continues to claw back gains amidst a cautious and discerning market sentiment.

Looking beyond the currency market, we observe a confluence of factors influencing investor sentiment. US S&P 500 futures are grappling with modest losses, casting a shadow over market participants as apprehensions surrounding China’s property sector loom large. Concurrently, the benchmark 10-year US Treasury bond yield has resurged, recapturing the pivotal 4.20% level, marking a notable uptick of nearly 1% over the course of the trading day.

Meanwhile, anticipation abounds regarding forthcoming policy actions from China, including potential relaxation of restrictions on home purchasing. The beleaguered Chinese property developer, Country Garden, received a nod from its creditors to extend payments for an onshore private bond, underscoring the precarious state of the property sector in the world’s second-largest economy.

On a brighter note, China’s Caixin Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) offered an unexpected ray of optimism, rebounding into expansion territory with a reading of 51.0 in August. This notable upswing contrasts with the preceding month’s contractionary reading of 49.2, surprising market analysts who had anticipated a more conservative figure of 49.3.

Stateside, the US Nonfarm Payrolls data painted a mixed picture, revealing an increase of 187,000 jobs in August, surpassing expectations set at 170,000. However, the previous reading was revised downward significantly to 157,000, tempering the employment growth narrative. Moreover, the US Unemployment Rate bucked expectations by unexpectedly rising to 3.8%. Meanwhile, annual Average Hourly Earnings in August registered a 4.3% increase year-on-year, slightly falling short of the anticipated 4.4% uptick.

As market participants look ahead, the focus is expected to remain on the RBA’s interest-rate decision, which is poised to shape the near-term trajectory of the AUD/USD pair during a week characterised by a relatively sparse economic data calendar. Adding intrigue to this scenario, the outgoing RBA Governor, Philip Lowe, is slated to deliver a speech titled “Some Closing Remarks” at the Anika Foundation event in Sydney this Friday, further amplifying the significance of the central bank’s stance in shaping market sentiment.