AUD
The AUD started last week in strong territory with Tuesday’s RBA decision to hold rates prompting further speculation about when the next rate rise will occur. The AUD however fell sharply with Wednesday’s opening being the week’s low from where a stellar revival began as risk appetite returned to the market.

The previous week’s significant increase in capital expenditure figures were not reflected in Monday’s Company Gross Operating Profits (-7.8% V -4.4%E). Building Permits (MoM) were particularly strong on Tuesday (7.7%V3.3%E) and importantly the GDP figure (0.6% V 0.4%E) firmed up confidence in the Australian economy. The Trade Balance figure was worse than expected on Thursday (-1156m V -840M), however by that stage the AUD had found its feet on the back of overseas equity market strength.

The week ahead in Australia
Monday 7th  – ANZ Jobs Advertisements (Aug) 4.1%
Tuesday 8th – NAB Business Conditions
Wednesday 9th – Westpac Consumer Confidence, Home Loans, Investment Lending, Retail Sales Trend
Thursday 10th  – Consumer Inflation Expectation

AUDUSD
The AUD started last week in strong territory just shy of the 0.8400 level, with the AUD falling sharply to begin Wednesday at 0.8230 from where a strong revival began as risk appetite returned to the market.

The week ahead in the US:
Monday 7th  – Labor Day Holiday
Tuesday 8th – Consumer Credit, ABC/Washington Post Consumer Confidence
Wednesday 9th – MBA Mortgage Applications, Fed’s Beige Book
Thursday 10th – Continuing Jobless Claims, Initial Jobless Claims, Trade Balance
Friday 11th – Import Price Index, Reuters/Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index, Wholesale Inventories, Monthly Budget Statement

AUDGBP
There was some volatility in this currency pair however there was little net movement for the week, starting last week at 0.5161 with strength in the GBP until Wednesday when the pair opened at 0.5102, and then lost ground again to finish closed the week at .5142.

The week ahead in the UK:
Monday 7th – RICS House Price Balance
Tuesday 8th – Halifax House Prices, Industrial Production, Manufacturing Production, Nationwide Consumer Confidence
Wednesday 9th – Goods Trade Balance, Total Trade Balance, BRC Shop Price Index, NIESR GDP Estimate
Thursday 10th – BoE Interest Rate Decision
Friday 11th – PPI

AUDEUR
This pairing started last week at 0.5874 and lost ground on Monday and Tuesday to descend to 0.5801 by Wednesday morning. Midweek saw a recovery for the AUD/EUR pairing and finished the week at 0.5889.

The week ahead in the Eurozone:
Monday 7th  – EU Sentix Investor Confidence, Germany Factory Orders
Tuesday 8th – Germany Trade Balance, Industrial Production
Wednesday 9th – Germany Consumer Price Index
Thursday 10th  – Germany Wholesale Price Index
Friday 11th  – ECB Monthly Report

NZD
The NZ dollar fell away from the highs of the year however found a base midweek and has responded since then with continued strength. Business confidence figures out on Monday were particularly bullish (34.2V18.7P).

The week ahead in NZ
Tuesday 8th – Credit Card Spending
Wednesday 9th  – RBNZ Interest Rate Decision, Terms of Trade Index
Thursday 10th – Food Price Index

AUDNZD
AUDNZD started the week at 1.2286 and finished the week relatively unchanged at 1.2314 and reached a high of 1.2396 in overnight trade on Tuesday.

GBPNZD
GBPNZD started the week at 2.3753 and strengthened until Wednesday’s 2.4121 and closed the week at 2.3904.

EURNZD
EURNZD started the week at 2.0909 and strengthened until Tuesday’s overnight high of 2.1193 and closed the week relatively unchanged from the week’s open at 2.091.

NZDUSD
The currency pair started the week at 0.6824, peaked on Monday at .6879 at 2:30pm and finished the week relatively unchanged from the Monday opening at 0.6816.