Tag Archives: Best GBP/AUD exchange rates
US China Trade War Intensifies (Daniel Johnson)
AUD losing investor confidence
Australia is heavily reliant on China purchasing its goods and services. Any fall in Chinese growth has a knock on effect on the Australian economy and in turn the Australian Dollar.
The US China trade war is a serious concern for investors and it is pushing them away from riskier commodity based currencies such as the Australian Dollar. The US and China are currently in talks and the Trump administration wants China to make fundamental changes to its current economic strategy.
If China were to make some of the changes requested it would have serious implications on the Chinese economy. Chinese President, Xi Jinping knows this and it may be the case that he will try to make as little concessions as possible in an attempt to outlast Trump’s reign.
It is a risky game considering the US has threatened to increase tariffs by 25% on $200bn worth of goods. The US has said they will implement the tariffs if the two sides fail to make progress by 1st March.
According to a UN trade agency report Asian countries would be the most effected. The implications of such an increase should not be understated. With two super powers trading blows the effect will be wide reaching and will hit the global economy.
The Australian Dollar could be among the hardest hit until we have a resolution, which could be some way off, AUD will remain fragile.
If it were not for the lack of clarity surrounding Brexit I think we could see some decent gains for Sterling against the Aussie, unfortunately the uncertainty over Brexit is outweighing concerns down under and the Pound continues to be anchored at low buoyancy levels. There are alternative options to May’s deal being put forward, but there is still no firm way forward. May’s intention is to gain concessions from Brussels that will be accepted by parliament. She has already attempted to this in December after delaying the initial vote. May was stone walled by Brussels and European Commission President, Jean Claude Junker has continually stated there will be no concessions made. Many still believe a deal may be struck at the 11th hour, but Brussels have stuck to their guns up until this point. The PM is currently in a worse position than in December following the diminishing probability of a no deal scenario (one of her only sources of ammunition) with Morgan Stanley predicted there is less than a 5% chance of a No deal Brexit.
If you are looking to move GBP – AUD short term aim for the 1.83s.
During such unpredictable times you need an experienced broker on board if you wish to maximise your return. If you have a pending currency transfer let me know the details of your trade I will endeavour to assist. There is no obligation to trade by asking for my help, I will provide a free trading strategy to suit your individual needs. If you do wish to try our service you can trade in the knowledge we are a no risk entity, as we do not speculate. Foreign Currency Direct PLC has been in business for over 18yrs and we are registered with the FCA. If you already use a provider I can perform a comparison within minutes and I am confident I will demonstrate a considerable saving. I can be contacted at dcj@currencies.co.uk.
Will the slowdown in China put pressure on the Australian Dollars value?
The main news within the financial markets this morning is the release of 4th quarter Gross Domestic Product from China. The figure is followed closely owing to its importance, as the Chinese economy is the 2nd largest globally and GDP data measures economic output.
The figure released is 6.4% year on year in the forth quarter, and this was expected. The headlines will centre on the annual figure which is now officially 6.6% through 2018 which is the lowest figure on record since 1990, almost 30 years ago.
Now that the annual GDP figure has been released the concerns surrounding a slowing Chinese economy have been confirmed, and this could spell trouble for the global economy with economies such as Australia’s likely to feel the pinch considering the extent to which the Australian and Chinese economies are intertwined. The negative effects of the US-China trade war can now been seen so hopes of a deal being stuck will be a high as ever, and it’s likely that the talks could impact AUD exchange rates as AUD could react to US-China sentiments.
From the UK side, this afternoon could offer GBP exchange rates some direction as UK Prime Minister, Theresa May will announce the governments Plan B now that her deal hasn’t made its way through parliament. The pound has dropped off slightly at the beginning of this week which is likely due to the anticipation of what will be said later. For now, cross party discussions have come to a halt as the leader of the opposition, Jeremy Corbyn has stated that we won’t talk until a no-deal is ruled out.
I think that this afternoon’s announcement is likely to drive GBP exchange rates to begin with and that the Irish backstop will be a major talking point regarding the new plan.
If you have a large currency exchange to carry out in the coming days, weeks or months then you are more than welcome to speak with me directly as I will be more than happy to help you both with trying to time a transaction and getting you the top market rate when you do come to buy your currency. A small improvement in a rate of exchange can make a huge difference so for the sake of taking two minutes to email me you may find you save yourself hundreds if not thousands of Pounds. You can email me (Joseph Wright) on jxw@currencies.co.uk and I will endeavour to get back to you as soon as I can.
Mixed messages on Trade Wars mystify AUD Exchange rates
The Australian dollar has been pulled from pillar to post as conflicting reports on the Trade Wars between China and the United States send mixed signals to the currency markets. A report from the Wall Street Journal newspaper indicated the US might be ready to temper down some of the tariffs and their tone in the talks, to try to seek a resolution. This report was then quickly dismissed by the US Treasury Department, leading to the Australian losing value.
The Trade Wars are a major driver on the currency as investors seek to gauge the likelihood of Australia suffering any economic slowdown as a result of the expected slowdown in China. China is predicted to come off the worst from any developing tensions and a closely monitored Chinese Manufacturing survey earlier in the year indicated a slowdown. This saw the Australian dollar weaker and has set the tone for 2019 for currency so far.
We have expected a more negative twist and turn of events on the Trade Wars, Donald Trump is not the kind of person to easily step back from confrontation even where it causes harm. This attitude has seen the US Government enter its longest ever shutdown which has weighed heavily on sentiment and could put further pressure on the global economy.
Of benefit to the Australian dollar could be any quick turn resolution in sentiments but it does seem likely the Trade Wars will continue. Donald Trump’s actions will continue to be under scrutiny and he is unlikely to easily and quickly back down from the rhetoric that has driven the Australian currency lower.
Worsening economic data for the Chinese economy will only heap pressure on the Australian currency as investors have to weigh up the longer term prospects for economy in such uncertain global conditions. Whilst any surprise twists in sentiment could see pockets of Australian dollar strength it does feel that the general trajectory will be negative and the risks are to the downside with the currency.
Thank you for reading and I welcome any comments or business inquiries with regard to personal assistance with the timing and planning of any international currency transfers.
Thank you for reading and please contact me directly on jmw@currencies.co.uk to discuss further.
Will next week’s vote on May’s Brexit deal cause movement for GBP/AUD?
The Pound has been trading within relatively thin volumes this week against most major currency pairs as the currency comes under pressure in the lead up to next week. On the 15th of this month, which is next Tuesday there will be a ‘meaningful vote’ on Prime Minister, Theresa May’s Brexit plan and much of the speculation this week revolves around that date.
The Australian Dollar, despite being the biggest loser in terms of currency throughout 2018 of the G10 countries, has actually been increasing in value over the past week as hopes of a agreement between the US and China over the trade war talks increase. There have been ongoing discussions recently between the two leading economies, and this is a positive for Australia as China is the country’s main trading partner.
So far this morning the Pound has got off to a poor start, as pressure builds in the lead up to next week’s vote, especially after the first planned vote was delayed as May was concerned of a major loss. The latest Brexit related update is that yesterday evening Parliament voted in a new amendment specifying that the government has 3-days to report back to the commons with its ‘plan B’ in the event that May loses next week.
Economic data is taking a back seat at the moment owing to the importance of UK politics at the moment, but it’s worth being aware that on Friday there will be UK GDP figures released at 9.30am with growth of 0.1% expected. I would expect to see a drop in the Pounds value if this figure disappointing especially if the figure shows a negative figure.
If you wish to be updated and to plan around what could be a busy week for the GBP/AUD pair, do feel free to register your interest with us.
If you have a large currency exchange to carry out in the coming days, weeks or months then you are more than welcome to speak with me directly as I will be more than happy to help you both with trying to time a transaction and getting you the top market rate when you do come to buy your currency. A small improvement in a rate of exchange can make a huge difference so for the sake of taking two minutes to email me you may find you save yourself hundreds if not thousands of Pounds. You can email me (Joseph Wright) on jxw@currencies.co.uk and I will endeavour to get back to you as soon as I can.
Brexit continues to be the main influence on GBP/AUD (Daniel Johnson)
Could Brexit January 15th vote simply lead to another?
GBP/AUD rates continue to be largely dictated by Brexit. Theresa May has now confirmed 15th January as the date that parliament will vote on her current deal. The vote was originally delayed due to May’s lack of confidence in the deal going through. European Commission President, Jean-Claude Junker has said there will be no changes to the current deal and he is only willing to clarify the current terms. Could it be the case that Junker will make concessions? Or could the threat of a no deal Brexit force a vote through?
May has suggested if the deal does not go through at her first attempt then there will be a second vote, this could point to out that she feels Brussels will change it’s stance. There is still a huge lack of clarity surrounding Brexit which is not sitting well with investors. The majority of scenarios are Pound negative, but if May were to be ousted or resign we could see a second referendum back on the table.
If May’s deal does not go through we could see a leadership challenge from Corbyn or indeed we could see her resign if it looks like the deal will have no chance of going through, although I don’t take her for a quitter. I am not a particular fan of May, but you cannot help but admire her perseverance.
If you look historically if a country loses it’s leader the currency in question would weaken, however in this situation it will be interesting to see how the market reacts. We could see an initial fall due to political uncertainty, but if it appears a second referendum comes to the forefront it is widely predicted that the vote would come in in favour of remaining in the EU according to polls. This could boost investor confidence and in turn the pound.
Would I be hanging on for this if I was selling Sterling?
The answer is no. The majority of Brexit outcomes result in Sterling weakness, if you have to move short to medium term I would be looking to take advantage of current levels or at least a tranche for safety. The ongoing trade war between the US and China is a concern for the Aussie and if it were not for Brexit I think Sterling would be experiencing gains against AUD, unfortunately the lack of clarity surrounding Brexit is outweighing the trade war.
If you have a currency requirement I will be happy to assist. It is crucial to be in touch with an experienced broker when the market is currently so hard to predict. If you let me know the details of your trade I will endeavour to produce a free trading strategy to suit your individual needs. Have faith knowing you will be dealing with a brokerage in business for over 16yrs, Foreign Currency Direct Plc. We are a no risk entity as we do not speculate on the market and we are registered with the FCA. If you have a currency provider take a minute to send over the rates they offer and I am confident I can demonstrate a significant saving. I can be contacted at dcj@currencies.co.uk . (Daniel Johnson) Thank you for reading.
US-China Trade War and Brexit dictate GBP/AUD (Daniel Johnson)
Pound Value hinges on Brexit Deal
Brexit is anchoring the Pound against the majority of major currencies due to the lack of clarity surrounding Brexit. The current situation is not a good one, May’s deal in it’s current form seems to have little chance of being passed by parliament. The lack of faith in the deal going through was the reason the vote has now been delayed. Parliament reconvenes on 7th January and the vote will be held on the week commencing 14th January.
The 21st January is the final date the government can release it’s withdrawal plans. The majority of the possible outcomes I would largely consider Sterling negative. Jean-Claude Junker, President of the European Commission has stated that the deal on the table will not be renegotiated and that Brussels are only prepared to clarify the current terms of the deal. In it’s current form the deal does not look like it will go through which would hurt Sterling.
If the deal does not go through it is likely May will face a leadership challenge from Corbyn or May could resign, if this was to be the case the further political uncertainty would hurt the Pound. If May is ousted a General Election will be on the cards which does not bode well, but does bring a second referendum back to the table. If a second referendum is announced this could be deemed as pound positive as polls suggest the UK public would now vote to remain in the EU.
A no deal scenario would be the most damaging for the Pound although I am not of the opinion the losses will be as severe as the Bank of England have been touting. Carney suggested there will be over a 25% fall in house prices and GBP/EUR could drop below parity.
US-China Trade War could be prolonged
The US-China trade war continues to weigh on investors mind and many have moved away from the Australian Dollar due to Australia’s heavy reliance on the Chinese purchasing it’s goods and services. The current 90 day truce is in place provided China come to the table to negotiate over their current economic model. I am doubtful any major concessions will be made and the trade war could be prolonged which will hurt AUD. We could see an escalation if sufficient concessions are not made with the US threatening to increase tariffs on Chinese goods by 25%. This would hit both economies hard and also would cause further global economic uncertainty. If it were not for Brexit I think we would be seeing gains for Sterling against the Aussie, but at present the lack of clarity surrounding Britain’s future is holding the pound back.
During such unpredictable times you need an experienced broker on board if you wish to maximise your return. If you have a pending currency transfer let me know the details of your trade I will endeavour to assist. There is no obligation to trade by asking for my help, I will provide a free trading strategy to suit your individual needs. If you do wish to try our service you can trade in the knowledge we are a no risk entity, as we do not speculate. Foreign Currency Direct PLC has been in business for over 16yrs and we are registered with the FCA. If you already use a provider I can perform a comparison within minutes and I am confident I will demonstrate a considerable saving.
If you would like my help feel free to email me at dcj@currencies.co.uk.
Thank you for reading.
Australian dollar forecast – Australian dollar weakness ahead?
The Australian dollar has weakened overnight as investor focus shifts towards the now wider split between the US and Australian interest rate. With Australian interest rates at 1.75%, but the US now at 2.5%, the US dollar is a more attractive currency to hold and it has gained ground against the Australian dollar, weakening the Aussie in the process. The US raised interest rates overnight and are expected to raise further in 2019, despite many views to the contrary. This could see more pressure on the Australian dollar in 2019.
The economic news out of Australia overnight too was fairly positive with the Employment rate and the employment change, month on month both posting gains. This shows the Australian labour market is performing well and if such news continues in 2019, could be more supportive for an interest rate hike down under, which has so far been so elusive. The Australian dollar is likely to endure a mixed bag as we enter 2019 with the market closely following the latest news on US and Australian interest rates.
Global trade has been another factor driving the Australian dollar as the market ponders the possible negative effects from Donald Trump’s Trade Wars with China. With Australian trade relations with China forming a major part of the Australian economy, the market has been closely monitoring the sentiments on the Trade Wars, plus the possible negative fallout from any economic woes. The fact the Australian currency acts as a barometer of global trade and risk sentiment, owing to its economies close relationship to traded commodities like Coal, Steel and Aluminium, makes it all the more sensitive to such news.
Confidence is still holding in global markets but it does seem many are looking into the future with less reasons to be optimistic. This could ultimately spell trouble for the Australian dollar in 2019, particularly if the Trade Wars deteriorate further and the US presses ahead with their economic plans.
If you are looking to buy or sell Australian dollars then please do get in touch to discuss the latest news and forecasts. With the currency so sensitive to global news and developments it is important to understand all of the latest news and events to move the rates.
Thank you for reading and please contact me Jonathan Watson to discuss further.
Jonathan Watson
