It has been a good week for AUD/USD. The pair has gained 1.1%, its strongest weekly gains since the first week of June. On Friday, AUD/USD is trading at 0.6940, up 0.28% on the day. It’s the Fourth of July, so U.S. markets are closed for a national holiday. There are no Australian events on the schedule, so traders can expect a quiet end to the week.
The Aussie has been an absolute steamroller in the second quarter, with sizzling gains of 12% during that time. This is somewhat surprising, as the Chinese economy has been hit hard by COVID-19, and China is Australia’s largest trading partner. As a risk currency, one would have expected investors to keep their distance from the Australian dollar in a time of heightened uncertainty and anxiety.
Instead, the Aussie has gone on a tear against the U.S. dollar, which is considered a safe-haven in times of trouble. The coronavirus has taken a huge human and economic toll on the United States, and the country now has the largest number of coronavirus deaths, at over 100,000. Although the U.S. is showing signs of recovery, with improved numbers in manufacturing, services and employment, investors have not been attracted to the greenback, and the Aussie has taken full advantage of the situation.
Over in China, there was positive news from the services sector on Thursday. The Caixin Services PMI accelerated for a fourth straight month, climbing form 55.0 to 58.4 in June. In February, the PMI stood at just 26.5, so the rate of recovery has been impressive. The manufacturing industry is steady, with three consecutive readings just above the 50-level, which separates construction from expansion. However, manufacturing numbers will need to improve in order to give the Chinese economy a much-needed boost.
AUD/USD for Friday, July 3, 2020
AUD/USD showed little movement in the Asian session. The pair is slightly higher in European trade.
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