Investing.com - The Australian dollar ended Friday’s session lower against its U.S. counterpart, paring its weekly gain as appetite for growth-linked assets weakened after data showed that the U.S. economy grew less-than-forecast in the first quarter.
AUD/USD hit 1.0338 on Thursday, the pair’s highest since April 19; the pair subsequently consolidated at 1.0276 by close of trade on Friday, little changed for the week.
The pair is likely to find support at 1.0230, Wednesday’s low and resistance at 1.0338, Thursday’s high.
The Commerce Department said Friday U.S. gross domestic product expanded by 2.5% in the three months to March, missing expectations for growth of 3.0%.
The Aussie climbed to a one-week high against the greenback on Thursday after stronger-than-expected data from the U.S. and the U.K. saw risk sentiment rebound.
Official data showed that the U.K. economy returned to growth in the first quarter, expanding by a larger-than-forecast 0.3%, while a separate report showed that U.S. initial jobless claims fell by 16,000 to 339,000.
Meanwhile, in Australia, official data released Wednesday showed that Australia's consumer price index rose 0.4% in the first quarter, less than the expected 0.7% increase, after a 0.2% rise in the previous quarter.
In addition, the Reserve Bank of Australia said the trimmed mean consumer price index rose 0.3% in the last quarter, compared to expectations for a 0.5% gain, after an increase of 0.6% in the fourth quarter.
Elsewhere, the Aussie was lower against the euro on Friday, with EUR/AUD adding 0.23% to hit 1.2674.
The single currency looked likely to remain under pressure ahead of the upcoming European Central Bank policy meeting as speculation over a rate cut weighed.
In the week ahead, investors will be awaiting the outcomes of policy meetings by the Federal Reserve and the ECB, as well as Friday’s closely watched report on U.S. nonfarm payrolls.
Ahead of the coming week, Investing.com has compiled a list of these and other significant events likely to affect the markets.
Monday, April 29
The U.S. is to produce official data on personal income and expenditure, as well as private sector data on pending home sales, a leading economic indicator.
Tuesday, April 30
Australia is to produce official data on private sector credit.
Later Tuesday, the U.S. is to release data on consumer confidence, a report on manufacturing activity in Chicago and private sector data on house price inflation.
Wednesday, May 1
China is to release official data on manufacturing activity, a leading economic indicator. The Asian nation is Australia’s largest shipping partner.
The U.S. is to release the ADP nonfarm payrolls report on private sector job creation as well as government data on crude oil stockpiles. In addition, the Institute of Supply Management is release data on U.S. manufacturing activity, a leading economic indicator.
In addition, the Federal Reserve is to announce its benchmark interest rate. The announcement is to be accompanied by the bank’s monetary policy statement, which contains valuable insights into economic conditions from the bank’s perspective.
Thursday, May 2
Australia is to release official data on building approvals and import prices, which contribute to inflation.
The U.S. is to publish the weekly government report on initial jobless claims as well as official data on the trade balance.
Friday, May 3
Australia is to release official data on producer price inflation, a leading indicator of consumer inflation.
The U.S. is to round up the week with government data on nonfarm payrolls and the unemployment rate as well as data on average hourly earnings and factory orders. In addition, the ISM is release data on U.S. service sector activity, a leading economic indicator.
AUD/USD hit 1.0338 on Thursday, the pair’s highest since April 19; the pair subsequently consolidated at 1.0276 by close of trade on Friday, little changed for the week.
The pair is likely to find support at 1.0230, Wednesday’s low and resistance at 1.0338, Thursday’s high.
The Commerce Department said Friday U.S. gross domestic product expanded by 2.5% in the three months to March, missing expectations for growth of 3.0%.
The Aussie climbed to a one-week high against the greenback on Thursday after stronger-than-expected data from the U.S. and the U.K. saw risk sentiment rebound.
Official data showed that the U.K. economy returned to growth in the first quarter, expanding by a larger-than-forecast 0.3%, while a separate report showed that U.S. initial jobless claims fell by 16,000 to 339,000.
Meanwhile, in Australia, official data released Wednesday showed that Australia's consumer price index rose 0.4% in the first quarter, less than the expected 0.7% increase, after a 0.2% rise in the previous quarter.
In addition, the Reserve Bank of Australia said the trimmed mean consumer price index rose 0.3% in the last quarter, compared to expectations for a 0.5% gain, after an increase of 0.6% in the fourth quarter.
Elsewhere, the Aussie was lower against the euro on Friday, with EUR/AUD adding 0.23% to hit 1.2674.
The single currency looked likely to remain under pressure ahead of the upcoming European Central Bank policy meeting as speculation over a rate cut weighed.
In the week ahead, investors will be awaiting the outcomes of policy meetings by the Federal Reserve and the ECB, as well as Friday’s closely watched report on U.S. nonfarm payrolls.
Ahead of the coming week, Investing.com has compiled a list of these and other significant events likely to affect the markets.
Monday, April 29
The U.S. is to produce official data on personal income and expenditure, as well as private sector data on pending home sales, a leading economic indicator.
Tuesday, April 30
Australia is to produce official data on private sector credit.
Later Tuesday, the U.S. is to release data on consumer confidence, a report on manufacturing activity in Chicago and private sector data on house price inflation.
Wednesday, May 1
China is to release official data on manufacturing activity, a leading economic indicator. The Asian nation is Australia’s largest shipping partner.
The U.S. is to release the ADP nonfarm payrolls report on private sector job creation as well as government data on crude oil stockpiles. In addition, the Institute of Supply Management is release data on U.S. manufacturing activity, a leading economic indicator.
In addition, the Federal Reserve is to announce its benchmark interest rate. The announcement is to be accompanied by the bank’s monetary policy statement, which contains valuable insights into economic conditions from the bank’s perspective.
Thursday, May 2
Australia is to release official data on building approvals and import prices, which contribute to inflation.
The U.S. is to publish the weekly government report on initial jobless claims as well as official data on the trade balance.
Friday, May 3
Australia is to release official data on producer price inflation, a leading indicator of consumer inflation.
The U.S. is to round up the week with government data on nonfarm payrolls and the unemployment rate as well as data on average hourly earnings and factory orders. In addition, the ISM is release data on U.S. service sector activity, a leading economic indicator.