News and analysis

It’s not just AUD/USD and the RBA interest rate outlook that have been shaken up by Australia’s hot March quarter inflation report with the Australian dollar gaining sharply against the crosses, especially those currencies whose central banks are still expected to ease monetary policy this year.

Momentum may have turned higher for bitcoin this week, yet it lacks the trading volumes usually associated with a strong rally.

AUD/USD is charging higher, powered by a hotter-than-expected Australian March quarter consumer price inflation report that has seriously dented the case for rate cuts from the Reserve Bank of Australia this year.

The US 2-year bond yield remains support, which is capping the yield at 5% and weighed on the US dollar. And that helped AUD/USD rise for a second day ahead of a key AU CPI report.

If you’re waiting for economic events outside the United States to spark the next wave of currency market volatility, you’re looking in the wrong place. Because in the absence of a black or grey-swan type event, it will almost certainly come from within the United States.

It has been a risk-on session so far, with equity indices rising sharply for the second consecutive day ahead of Tesla’s earnings tonight and other big tech companies reporting this week. Also on the rise today have been markets such as crude oil, the EUR/USD and even the GBP/USD. Sentiment was lifted by stronger PMI data from the services sector in Europe and UK, alleviating growth concerns even if the manufacturing sector PMI continued to remain depressed.

US indices point to a stronger start as corporate earnings continue to roll in. Earnings are providing a welcomed distraction after worries over the Fed keeping rates high for longer hurt sentiment last week. US PMI data is due shortly and is expected to show business activity grew at a faster pace. Tesla is due to report after the close after the EV maker's deliveries fell in Q1 and as the share price trades down 40% this year.

Has gold selling already or nearly done? Gold remains fundamentally supported in the long term, although there is room for further correction. Gold technical analysis shows prices are no longer as overbought as a couple of weeks ago.

FTSE rises to a record high as the GBP struggles around a 5-month low. EUR/USD looks to PMI data.