Australian Dollar remains stronger despite disappointing Retail Sales, US NFP eyed

• The Australian Dollar maintains its position despite a disappointing Retail Sales MoM for March.
• The AUD may come under pressure as renewed fears of a global economic slowdown weigh on commodity markets.
• Trump signaled potential trade agreements with India, Japan, and South Korea, and voiced optimism about reaching a resolution with China.

The Australian Dollar (AUD) is rebounding modestly against the US Dollar (USD) on Friday, retracing some of the previous session’s losses. Australia’s Retail Sales—a key indicator of consumer spending—increased by 0.3% month-over-month in March, up from a 0.8% rise in February (revised from 0.2%), according to data released Friday by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). However, the figure fell short of market expectations, which had forecast a 0.4% gain.

However, the AUD/USD pair remains vulnerable as falling metal prices weigh on sentiment. Key commodities like iron ore, copper, and gold declined amid renewed concerns over a global economic slowdown, pressuring the commodity-linked Aussie Dollar.

The upside of the AUD/USD pair could be restrained as signs of easing US trade tensions support the Greenback. Investor sentiment shifted after US President Donald Trump signaled potential trade deals with India, Japan, and South Korea, and expressed optimism about resolving tensions with China.

According to Bloomberg, China is considering renewed trade talks with the US. The Chinese Commerce Ministry noted that Washington has reached out to express interest in resuming negotiations. However, China is reportedly conducting an internal assessment and maintains that the US should correct its tariff-related actions, which it views as the unilateral trigger for the ongoing trade dispute.

Australia heads to the polls this weekend, and the outcome presents several risks for the Australian Dollar. Current polling slightly favors incumbent Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, but the race remains tight. A key concern is the possibility of Albanese winning only a minority, forcing him to form a government with the support of the Greens and/or independents, raising the risk of more expansive fiscal policies and potential fiscal slippage. Another short-term risk is the potential for a delayed result, with no clear outcome emerging for several days after the vote.

Meanwhile, inflationary pressures in Australia in early 2025 have weakened expectations of further monetary easing by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA). However, markets anticipate a 25-basis-point rate cut in May, as policymakers prepare for possible economic fallout from the recently introduced US tariffs.

Australian Dollar advances as US Dollar struggles ahead of NFP report

• The US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the USD against a basket of six major currencies, is losing ground after registering gains in the previous three successive sessions, trading near 100.10 at the time of writing. Market sentiment remains cautious ahead of the upcoming Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) report, as investors look for insight into how tariffs may be impacting employment trends.
• The ISM Manufacturing PMI slipped to 48.7 in April from 49.0, indicating continued contraction in the sector. While still below the 50.0 expansion threshold, the reading was better than expectations of 48.0.
• Initial Jobless Claims rose to 241,000 for the week ending April 26, above both the consensus forecast of 224,000 and the previous week’s revised figure of 223,000. Meanwhile, the Employment Index within the ISM survey showed a modest improvement, rising to 46.5 from 44.7. While still signaling declines in manufacturing employment, the pace of deterioration appears to be slowing.
• US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen cautioned that Trump’s tariffs could have a "tremendously adverse" impact on the US economy. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent noted that the inverted yield curve, with two-year yields below the federal funds rate, supports the case for Federal Reserve rate cuts.
• US President Donald Trump, during a NewsNation Town Hall interview early Thursday, expressed optimism about a potential trade agreement with China, stating there is a "very good probability we'll reach a deal." Trump emphasized that any agreement with China must meet US conditions. He also mentioned the possibility of future trade deals with India, South Korea, and Japan, and noted that a deal with Ukraine was finalized earlier in the day.
• The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported on Thursday a trade surplus of AUD 6.9 billion for March, significantly surpassing expectations of AUD 3.13 billion and the revised February figure of AUD 2.85 billion (down from AUD 2.97 billion). The strong surplus was driven by a 7.6% rise in exports and a 2.2% decline in imports for the month.
• On Wednesday, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 0.9% quarter-over-quarter in Q1 2025, up from a 0.2% increase in Q4 2024 and exceeding market expectations of a 0.8% rise. On an annual basis, CPI climbed 2.4% in the first quarter, beating the forecast of 2.2%.
• Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers noted that markets still anticipate further interest rate cuts. “The market expects more interest rate cuts after inflation figures,” he stated, adding that there’s “nothing in these numbers that would substantially alter market expectations.”
• In China, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported that the Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) slipped to 49.0 in April from 50.5 in March, falling short of the 49.9 consensus and indicating a return to contraction. The Non-Manufacturing PMI also softened, easing to 50.4 in April from 50.8 in March, below the expected 50.7.

Australian Dollar finds support at 0.6400 near nine-day EMA

The AUD/USD pair is trading around 0.6410 on Friday, maintaining a bullish bias on the daily chart. The pair continues to hold above the nine-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA), while the 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) remains comfortably above 50, both suggesting sustained upward momentum.

The AUD/USD pair could find immediate resistance at the recent four-month high of 0.6449, posted on April 29. A decisive break above this level could pave the way toward the five-month high at 0.6515.

On the downside, initial support is located at the nine-day EMA at 0.6387, followed by the 50-day EMA at 0.6320. A breach below these levels could weaken the bullish outlook and may expose the pair to deeper losses, with the March 2020 low near 0.5914 as a distant bearish target.

AUD/USD: Daily Chart