AUD/USD: the pace of corrective dynamics in the currency pair has decreased
The AUD/USD currency pair shows uncertain trends, holding near the level of 0.6590, in anticipation of new economic incentives in the absence of significant macroeconomic data. Analysts noted that the People's Bank of China maintained its key interest rate at 3.45%, while the five-year rate affecting mortgages remained at 4.20%.
In Australia, December data on business climate indices from the National Bank of Australia is expected to be published in the near future, as well as January business activity indicators in the service and manufacturing sectors from the Commonwealth Bank. In the United States, preliminary data on business activity in the manufacturing and services sectors from S&P Global are due to be published in January.
In its economic report on Australia, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts a return of inflation to the target range of 2.0–3.0% only by 2026, in contrast to the expectations of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) for 2025. The RBA recommended a further increase in rates to effectively control the growth of consumer prices.
- Resistance levels: 0.6600, 0.6630, 0.6662, 0.6700.
- Support levels: 0.6543, 0.6500, 0.6450, 0.6400.
Gold price analysis
The price of the precious metal is experiencing a slight decline in conditions of moderate market activity, fluctuating around the level of 2022.30 and moving away from the peak values of January 16 reached last week.
Gold continues to receive limited support due to growing geopolitical tensions in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, where the United States and its allies are seeking to secure transport routes in the Red Sea. At the same time, pressure on gold prices is increasing due to lower expectations about the imminent easing of monetary policy by the world's largest central banks. The president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Austan Goolsby, said on Friday that the US Federal Reserve needs convincing evidence of a steady decline in inflation to make a decision to cut rates. The latest macroeconomic data and comments from officials led to a decrease in the probability of an interest rate change in March to 53.0%, compared with the previously expected 70.0% in the previous week.
- Resistance levels: 2030.00, 2041.77, 2050.00, 2065.00.
- Support levels: 2015.30, 2000.00, 1987.29, 1972.85.
Crude Oil market analysis
WTI Crude Oil is below the resistance level of 74.50, reflecting the stabilization in the market.
In light of the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, many tankers choose routes bypassing the Red Sea. A positive impetus for oil is also created by an increase in the expected demand for fuel this year. The revised forecasts of the International Energy Agency (IEA) suggest an increase in consumption by 1.24 million barrels per day, which is less than the increase anticipated by OPEC by 2.25 million barrels per day. A recent report from the Energy Information Administration of the U.S. Department of Energy (EIA) showed a decrease in oil reserves by 2.494 million barrels, exceeding forecasts of 0.313 million barrels. At the same time, gasoline inventories increased by 3.083 million barrels, and distillates — by 2.3760 million barrels.
- Resistance levels: 74.48, 79.16.
- Support levels: 68.27, 64.01.
Cryptocurrency market analysis
Today, the bitcoin price is experiencing a correction, approaching a medium-term uptrend and reaching a level of about 40650.00.
The main factors influencing the decline in the value of the first cryptocurrency include the restrained reaction of institutional investors to the recent launch of bitcoin ETFs, as well as concerns about a possible delay in easing the monetary policy of the US Federal Reserve System until the second half of the year. Recall that the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently approved 11 applications for the creation of new ETFs based on BTC, but the trading volumes of these instruments turned out to be less significant than expected. The inflow of funds slowed down: on Thursday it amounted to 4.5 billion dollars, on Friday — 3.1 billion, on Tuesday — 1.8 billion and on Wednesday — 1.5 billion dollars.
Grayscale Investments CEO Michael Sonnenschnein opined that of the 11 new spot ETFs, only two or three will be able to attract new players to the market, while the rest are likely to be unsuccessful. Peter Schiff, president of Euro Pacific Capital Inc. and a well-known critic of cryptocurrencies, suggests that the value of digital assets will continue to fall after the initial demand subsides.
- Resistance levels: 43750.00, 46875.00, 48437.50.
- Support levels: 40625.00, 39100.00, 37500.00.