Central banks are not to be envied in this cycle of monetary tightening! They have to choose between suppressing the highest inflation in decades and the danger of plunging their own economies into recession. What could be more difficult? Political pressure! The head of the Reserve Bank of Australia has faced unprecedented criticism for high rates. He is accused of intent to cause a recession and advised to choose his words when talking about continuing the cycle of monetary restriction.
It is understandable that politicians are not happy with the high cost of borrowing, which limits credit, slows economic growth and creates problems in the labor market. Thus, in January, unemployment in Australia rose to an 8-month high of 3.7%, employers laid off 11,000 people, and the January figure was revised downward to -20,000. When justifying previous cash rate hikes, the RBA figured the strength of the labor market, but if scars from tighter monetary policy begin to appear, shouldn't the process be put on hold?
Dynamics of Australian employment
In fact, one report is unlikely to change the regulator's outlook. The central bank is doing the right thing, because Australian inflation is not slowing down. Under these conditions, it is necessary to continue the monetary restriction cycle. Yes, there is political pressure on Philip Lowe, but it can hardly be compared to Donald Trump's pressure on Jerome Powell. At one time, the former U.S. president called the Fed chairman America's enemy for his unwillingness to lower the federal funds rate.
The central bank's independence is the key to continued monetary tightening, which is bullish for the AUDUSD. However, the main growth driver for the pair is the events in the global economy in general and China in particular.
Another liquidity injection by the People's Bank of China (PBoC) into the banking system worth 632 billion yuan indicates that the recovery of the Chinese economy after the lifting of the COVID restrictions is in full swing. Yes, the PBoC did not reduce key rates, but the local authorities have already done so for it, which in a directive order, obliged commercial banks to reduce mortgage rates. In fact, the PBoC should be thankful because monetary policy divergence could lead to a serious weakening of the yuan and capital outflows.
It is crucial for Australia and its currency that its major trading partner gets better and is ready to provide half of the global GDP growth in 2023. The faster this process goes, the better for the AUDUSD bulls.
Technically, a Wolfe wave reversal pattern formed on the daily chart of the analyzed pair. Its target is located near the level of 0.705. The formation of the pin bar with the long lower shadow is the evidence that the AUDUSD has found the bottom. As long as the Aussie is above $0.6886, it should be bought.