Dollar drifted lower in subdued trading, with many Asian markets closed for holidays. Movements in the currency markets elsewhere were mixed. Traditional safe havens like Yen and Swiss Franc inching higher. But at the same time, risk-sensitive currencies such as Australian and New Zealand Dollars also advanced. Overall risk sentiment lacking clear direction.
This lack of coherence highlights the current state of indecision. Traders are reasonable to be hesitant to take firm positions ahead of key events later in the week, including Fed and BoE rate decisions. Nevertheless, today’s US ISM Services PMI might still inject some short-term volatility. The manufacturing sector in the US has held up better than expected despite tariff shocks. It’s time for the services sector to face its own resilience test.
On the trade front, US President Donald Trump announced a new 100% tariff on foreign-produced films, citing what he called a “very fast death” of the US film industry due to global competition. He also signaled that new tariff decisions on select countries could be announced in the coming weeks if negotiations stall.
Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese celebrated a landslide reelection and confirmed a “positive” conversation with Trump. Albanese reiterated continued engagement on AUKUS and tariff matters. However, despite the friendly rhetoric, markets remain wary of what’s next on the trade front.
Oil sinks as OPEC+ ramps up output again, WTI heading back to 4-yr low
Oil prices opened the week with a sharp gap lower, as traders responded to OPEC+’s weekend agreement to accelerate output increases for a second straight month. WTI crude is now heading back toward the four-year low of $55.20 set in April.
OPEC+ will raise June production by 411k barrels per day. That brings the total additional supply from April to June to nearly one million barrels per day, representing 44% rollback of the group’s 2022-era production cuts.
This shift has stoked concerns that global oil markets may soon swing into surplus. The broader concern is that OPEC+ may fully unwind voluntary production cuts by October unless compliance among members improves. Such a move would flood the market with more supply just as global demand outlooks remain clouded by trade tensions.
Technically, prior rejection by 65.24 support turned resistance keeps WTI’s long term down trend intact. Further decline is now expected as long as 60.16 resistance holds. Firm break of 55.20 low will confirm down trend resumption. WTI could then decline through 50 psychological level to 100% projection of 72.37 to 55.20 from 65.32 at 48.20.
Fed to hold, BoE to cut, and more global data
Two major central banks will meet this week: Fed and BoE.
Fed is widely expected to leave interest rates unchanged at 4.25–4.50%, a view fully priced in by markets with over 97% probability. As a result, there’s little room for surprise in the policy decision itself. Instead, attention will be on Chair Jerome Powell’s guidance—particularly on whether he hints at a rate cut in June.
However, following last week’s solid non-farm payroll report, expectations have already tempered, with the probability of a June cut slipping to just 35%. Also, the US is in a 90-day tariff truce. Negotiations are said to be progressing. But any major developments, positive or negative, may not materialize until closer to early July.
Given this backdrop, Powell is expected to reiterate that Fed is not in a rush to cut rates again, maintaining a data-dependent and cautious stance, especially while inflation expectations remain sticky and labor markets resilient.
In the UK BoE is expected to proceed with a 25 bps rate cut, lowering its Bank Rate to 4.25%. Governor Andrew Bailey has recently emphasized the downside risks from global trade tensions, particularly after the IMF revised down UK and global growth forecasts.
Yet while rhetoric has turned more cautious, markets will be looking to BoE’s updated projections for confirmation on how these concerns are turning into numbers. Inflation progress and growth expectations will be critical in assessing whether BoE will stick to a steady quarterly cutting path.
Beyond the central banks, markets will be watching a series of key economic data. Highlights include US ISM Services PMI, employment data from Canada and New Zealand, Japan’s wage growth and household spending, Swiss CPI, and China’s trade balance.
Here are some highlights for the week:
- Monday: Swiss CPI; US ISM services.
- Tuesday: China Caixin PMI services; Swiss unemployment rate; EUrozone PMI services final, PPI; UK PMI services final; Canada trade balance; US trade balance.
- Wednesday: New Zealand employment; Germany factory orders; Swiss foreign currency reserves; UK PMI construction; Eurozone retail sales; FOMC rate decision.
- Thursday: BoJ minutes; Germany industrial production, trade balance; BoE rate decision; US jobless claims, non-farm productivity.
- Friday: Japan average cash earnings, household spending; China trade balance; Swiss SECO consumer climate; Canada employment.
AUD/USD Daily Report
Daily Pivots: (S1) 0.6384; (P) 0.6427; (R1) 0.6484; More…
Intraday bias in AUD/USD remains on the upside for the moment. Rise from 0.5913 should continue to 61.8% retracement of 0.6941 to 0.5913 at 0.6548. On the downside, though, break of 0.6364 support will indicate short term topping, and turn bias to the downside for 55 D EMA (now at 0.6325) and below.
In the bigger picture, as long as 55 W EMA (now at 0.6443) holds, the down trend from 0.8006 (2021 high) should resume later to 61.8% projection of 0.8006 to 0.6169 from 0.6941 at 0.5806. However, sustained trading above 55 W EMA will argue that a medium term bottom was already formed, and set up further rebound to 0.6941 resistance instead.
