Australian CPI Indicator Justifies Possibility of RBA Hike
Australia’s monthly CPI indicator for May rose higher than expected in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The 4% reading exceeded the expectation of 3.8% and the April print of 3.6%, to add to the building narrative that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) will have to seriously consider raising the cash rate again in August.
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Aussie inflation appears to be heading lower when observing the quarterly measures for both headline and the trimmed median (core) calculations of price pressures. However, the rise in the timelier monthly CPI indicator suggests inflation pressures have reemerged, taking the chance of a rate hike in August to 35% and 54% by September, according to market implied expectations. The RBA has already had to resume the rate hiking cycle in November of last year after the committee judged it was appropriate to hold interest rates from June onwards and may have to follow the same course of action in Q3.
Source: Refinitiv, prepared by Richard Snow
Large Speculators still Need Convincing when it comes to AUD
Aussie net-short positioning is being reeled in, mainly via a reduction of short positions as opposed to an increase in longs. However, the trend of rising CPI data via the monthly indicator may persuade a greater adoption of the Aussie dollar but clearly the negative effect of a weaker Chinese economy is weighing on the Australian economic outlook and confidence in a stronger AUD. However, the Aussie has enjoyed some recent strength after the RBA minutes confirmed that group discussed a rate hike during the June meeting. Most developed central banks are contemplating rate cuts or have already sone so, highlighting the divergence in monetary policy that is growing between Australia and the rest of its peers.
Aussie Net-Short Positioning Being Reduced via the CoT Report, CFTC
Source: Refinitiv, prepared by Richard Snow
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