Best buy Australian Dollar as the exchange rate looks towards Parity

Australian Dollar Rate Outlook

The Australian dollar was once again a top performer to finish the week’s trade as speculators poured into the progressively higher-yielding Aussie currency. Hawkish rhetoric by Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Glenn Stevens underlined the bank’s resolve to tighten monetary policy sooner than later. Indeed, Overnight Index Swaps are now pricing in an impressive 200+ points of rate hikes in the coming 12 months-by far the most of any G7 central bank. All else remaining equal, this should provide solid Australian Dollar support against lower-yielding counterparts. Yet the pace of Australian Dollar appreciation has been nothing short of impressive, and one has to wonder whether the currency can continue its recent advances. An effectively empty economic calendar gives little in the way of foreseeable event risk in the week ahead, and as such it remains most important to watch for major moves in key asset classes.

A speech by RBA Governor Glenn Stevens set the tone for what may be an aggressive wave of monetary policy tightening. Stevens discusses monetary stimulus in light of the global financial crisis, emphasizing that Australia seems to have weathered the broader economic crisis and escaped relatively unharmed. Economic resilience suggests that previously aggressive interest rate cuts have done their job, and in fact the central bank has already begun reversing its monetary policy accommodation. In its recent rate hike the RBA stated that rate hikes should "gradually" be pulled back.

Yet Stevens surprised many when he effectively foreshadowed rate hikes with similar intensity to the large cuts we saw through the financial crisis. He clarifies that he does not believe that the Australian economy is currently "too strong", but he does go on to say "that the very low interest rate settings were designed for a weaker economy than we are in fact facing." Interest rate expectations jumped on the commentary, and in fact markets are now pricing in a 50 percent chance of an aggressive 50 basis point (0.50 percent) rate increase through the November meeting.

Expectations are running high for Australian Dollar yields and the currency itself. The key question in the weeks and months ahead will be whether reality can match those lofty expectations. As it stands, a number of respected research desks have called for Australian Dollar parity against the US Dollar rate in the coming months. Yet near record-high Aussie correlations to key commodity prices suggest that AUD forecasts may depend on broader moves in key financial asset classes. Suffice it to say, there should be no shortage of excitement in upcoming Australian Dollar trade.

or the full story visit www.dailyfx.com

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Euros To Australian Dollars = 1.6162
Australian Dollars to US Dollars = 0.9257
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Australian Interest rates will stay steady for at least another two months after the
Reserve Bank today kept the official rate on hold at 4.75 per cent. The decision
was widely expected after the RBA’s surprise move last month prompted the big
banks to lift mortgage rates well beyond the official 25 basis-point rise. HSBC
economist Paul Bloxham said last week that today’s decision was “almost a fait
accompli” after mortgage rates rose by about 40 basis-points in November, “which
is plenty of tightening for now”. After today’s board meeting, the RBA will not
meet again until February,

the Herald Sun reports.
In a statement detailing today's rate decision, RBA governor Glenn Stevens said there continued to be "a degree of caution" in consumer spending and borrowing, which has led to "a noticeable increase" in the household saving rate. "Following the board's decision last month to lift the cash rate, and the subsequent increases by financial institutions, lending rates in the economy are now a little above average," Mr Stevens said. "The board views this setting of monetary policy as appropriate for the economic outlook."

A 25 basis point increase to the official rate would have added about $50 a month to a $300,000, 25-year home loan, according to research company Canstar Cannex. All 15 economists surveyed earlier by AAP forecasted the central bank would leave the overnight cash rate at 4.75 per cent. The meeting followed weak economic data last week showing the Australian economy grew 0.2 per cent in the September quarter for an annual pace of 2.7 per cent and retail trade fell 1.1
per cent in October. "The 'super-sizing' by the commercial banks all but liminated the need to do much more near term," JP Morgan chief economist Stephen Walters said yesterday. Last week's data also showed tepid economic growth in the September quarter and an unexpectedly weak result for October retail sales, giving the (RBA) more flexibility on its next move. The jump in
mortgage rates, aside from the uproar from customers and politicians of all stripes, has caused a change of behaviour among borrowers.

According to Mortgage Choice data, almost 11 per cent of all home loans approved in November were fixed rate, compared with 7.7 per cent in October, as borrowers sought certainty in their
monthly repayments. Such mortgages accounted for less than one per cent of approvals in January. Another broker, Loan Market, has also faced a flood of inquiries from people wanting to reduce their home loan by moving to a smaller house. Treasurer Wayne Swan is expected to announce a suite of measures this week to encourage more banking competition by promoting smaller banks, building societies and credit unions.

For the full story please visit www.news.com.au

Pounds to Australian Dollars = 1.5850
Euros To Australian Dollars = 1.3450
Australian Dollars to US Dollars = 1.0095
Australian Dollars to New Zealand Dollars = 1.3000

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Overseas Money Transfers

Reserve Bank of Australia cuts Australian Mortgage Rates 1%

THE Reserve Bank of Australia has slashed interest rates by 100 basis points to 4.25 per cent.

Interest rates are now at a six and a half year low, and more cuts are on the way, economists say. CBA chief economist Michael Blythe said the RBA was likely to cut by a further 50 basis points in February. "It's a brave call to say there aren't any more rate cuts out there but you need more negative data to get large, rapid-fire rate cuts."

Last month the central bank cut interest rates by 75 basis points to 5.25 per cent. This followed on from a huge 100 basis point cut in October, and a 25 basis point reduction in September.

Most economists had tipped a 75 basis point cut today.

Minutes after the decision was announced, a spokesperson for Commonwealth Bank told news.com.au the bank would pass on the full rate cut, effective December 12. National Australian Bank followed suit, announcing it would pass on the full rate cut effective December 12, while Westpac said it would cut rates by 80 basis points. ANZ cut rates by 0.83 of a percentage point, effective December 12.

The central bank will be hoping today's rate cut encourages Australians to pull out their wallets, after data released this morning showed spending remained stagnant, despite recent figures showing that prices have started to fall.

RBA governor Glenn Stevens said although government and central bank stimulus packages had begun to take effect, global financial market sentiment remained "fragile".

"With confidence affected by the financial turbulence and a decline in the terms of trade now under way, more cautious behaviour by both households and businesses is likely to see private demand remain subdued in the near term," Mr Stevens said.

"With that outlook, and with capacity pressures now easing, it is likely that inflation in Australia will soon start to fall."

Macquarie Group interest rate strategist Rory Robertson said the RBA had, with its latest cut, reversed some six years of monetary policy tightening in just four board meetings.

Economists believe rates still have a way to fall, with some looking for a cash rate of 3.25 per cent next year. It is only the second 100 basis point rate cut since May 1992 - following a 100 basis point cut in October this year. The total 300 basis points worth of cuts since September is also the deepest set of rate cuts since early 1990, when the RBA eased monetary policy ahead of a recession.

Taking into account today's cuts, Australians will head into the Christmas season around $700 a month better off, according to experts.

Full story visit www.news.com.au

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Australian Interest rates kept on hold, cuts predicted

Interest rates kept on hold, cuts predicted

AS expected, the Reserve Bank has kept official interest rates steady today at a 12-year high of 7.25 per cent, in line with expectations. The decision was widely tipped, with all 19 economists surveyed by AAP expecting the RBA to leave the cash rate steady.

Reserve Bank governor Glenn Stevens indicated in a statement that while the board felt it was appropriate to keep rates steady this month, relief could be in sight.

"Weighing up the available domestic and international information, the board judged that the cash rate should remain unchanged this month. Nonetheless, with demand slowing, the board’s view is that scope to move towards a less restrictive stance of monetary policy in the period ahead is increasing," he said.

Interest rates 'won't go higher' ANZ chief economist Saul Eslake said the statement give a clear impression that interest rates have peaked. "That's an indication not only that there aren't going to be any more increases in interest rates but raises the question of when do they cut," Mr Eslake said. "The statement does not give any clues as to when that might be."

The central bank reaffirmed its forecast for inflation to fall back within its 2 to 3 per cent target band during 2010. Mr Eslake said moves this year by commercial banks to raise their borrowing rates independently of RBA decisions has been a "critical factor altering their thinking" about the economy.

"Additional rises in market interest rates and tougher credit standards have delivered some additional tightening of financial conditions without them having to lift a finger," Mr Eslake.

"That's clearly had some impact on the economy."

Rates cut by Christmas?

Lehman Brothers chief economist Stephen Roberts said Mr Stevens' statement about a "less restrictive" monetary policy stance had increased the possibility of an interest rate cut by the end of 2008.

"There could be one by Christmas - they're going to wait for more data," he said.

"They've got an easing bias but there's no timing on that ... they're not in a particular rush to change.

"They talk about uncertainty weighing on both inflation and growth."

Mr Roberts, who is forecasting rate cuts in the March quarter, said the RBA would not move on interest rates until at least after the October 22 release of September quarter consumer price index data.

"They did talk about inflation remaining high in the short term, but on balance economic growth remains subdued," he said.

But the banks aren’t necessarily listening. Commonwealth Bank chief executive Ralph Norris last month refused to guarantee that CBA would cut interest rates if official rates were cut.

Full story at news.com.au

The Australian Dollar has lost a lot of ground against the pound at the moment falling from 2.0500 to 2.1200

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