empty
18.02.2025 12:46 AM
AUD/USD: February RBA Meeting Preview

The AUD/USD pair has consolidated around the 0.6300 level, following positive news from China regarding rising inflation and the recent postponement of mutual tariffs by Trump. However, despite the AUD/USD showing confident growth, it is risky to consider long positions on this pair at the moment. On February 18, the Reserve Bank of Australia will announce the results of its first meeting of the year, during which it is likely to reduce the interest rate for the first time in four years.

This image is no longer relevant

Most analysts believe that the RBA is likely to lower interest rates by 25 basis points, bringing them down to 4.10%. This expectation gained traction after the release of the Q4 2024 inflation data. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by only 2.4% year-over-year, which is the slowest growth rate since Q1 2021. This result was below analysts' forecasts, who had anticipated a decline to 2.5%. CPI has now decreased for two consecutive quarters. Furthermore, the trimmed mean core inflation index also fell to 3.2% year-over-year in Q4, marking its slowest growth rate in three years and continuing its downward trend for the second consecutive quarter. Notably, there was a long-awaited slowdown in services inflation, which had previously been increasing in Q2 and Q3. After peaking at 4.6%, services inflation dropped to 4.3%. This deceleration is particularly significant in light of the broader decrease in CPI.

Moreover, slowing inflation has coincided with weak economic growth in Australia. In late December, the government downgraded its GDP growth forecast for the current fiscal year (ending June 30, 2025). While earlier projections suggested an expansion of 2.25%, the revised forecast now points to growth of just 1.75%. Additionally, wage growth expectations have been cut from 3.4% to 3.0%, and consumer spending is now expected to rise by only 1.0% instead of the previously projected 2.0%.

The most recent report on Australia's economic growth (Q3 2024) was disappointing. All components of the release missed expectations. Quarter-on-quarter GDP growth stood at 0.3%, while analysts had forecast 0.5%. Annual GDP growth reached only 0.8%, below the projected 1.1%, making it the slowest pace of expansion since Q4 2020, when the Australian economy contracted by 1.0% due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, GDP growth has been steadily declining for four consecutive quarters.

Australia's Q4 GDP data will be released on March 5, after the February RBA meeting. This means that the central bank will rely on the latest available data, including Australia's December labor market report, often called the "Australian Nonfarm Payrolls." The report was mixed. The unemployment rate increased to 4.0% after dropping to 3.9% in November. Meanwhile, total employment saw a substantial rise of 56,000 jobs, far exceeding the forecast of +25,000. However, part-time jobs drove the growth entirely, while full-time employment declined by 24,000. Since full-time positions typically offer higher wages and greater job security than temporary roles, the December figures cannot be classified as unambiguously positive despite the overall increase in employment.

In light of the current situation, the outlook suggests that a rate cut is likely at the upcoming RBA meeting in February. Additionally, there may be indications of a dovish stance regarding future easing measures. Should the central bank hint at another rate cut soon, the Australian dollar could face significant downward pressure, even amidst a broader market appetite for risk. While the anticipated rate cut has already been factored into current pricing, the future policy direction remains uncertain. Consequently, market participants will closely scrutinize the RBA's accompanying statement and comments from Governor Michele Bullock, as the tone of this communication will influence the trajectory of the AUD/USD pair.

Overall, this implies that holding long positions on AUD/USD is highly risky, despite the pair rising for three consecutive trading sessions. Given the importance of the upcoming RBA meeting, a wait-and-see strategy is recommended, with trading decisions ideally made after the central bank's announcement.

Irina Manzenko,
Analytical expert of InstaForex
© 2007-2025
Select timeframe
5
min
15
min
30
min
1
hour
4
hours
1
day
1
week
Earn on cryptocurrency rate changes with InstaForex
Download MetaTrader 4 and open your first trade
  • Grand Choice
    Contest by
    InstaForex
    InstaForex always strives to help you
    fulfill your biggest dreams.
    JOIN CONTEST

Recommended Stories

Trump's Tax Plan to Increase U.S. Deficit by Nearly $3.3 Trillion

According to a new assessment by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the Senate's latest version of President Donald Trump's tax and spending package would increase the U.S. deficit by nearly

Jakub Novak 12:35 2025-06-30 UTC+2

Are There Still Chances for Trade Deals?

The euro, the pound, and other risk-sensitive assets continue to rise against the weakening U.S. dollar, although the possibility of a rebound in the dollar—as well as the conclusion

Jakub Novak 12:31 2025-06-30 UTC+2

Bitcoin outshines competitors

Expectations vs. reality Cryptocurrency creators once envisioned a universe where countless tokens could compete for investors' money. In reality, aside from Bitcoin and a handful of digital assets, the rest

Marek Petkovich 12:15 2025-06-30 UTC+2

US stock market fed up with "smart money"

The end of June brought a spectacular rally for the S&P 500. Not only did the broad stock index hit a new all-time high for the first time since February

Marek Petkovich 11:15 2025-06-30 UTC+2

Markets End the First Summer Month on a Positive Note (with a Likely Continuation of #USDX Decline and EUR/USD Growth)

The ceasefire between Iran and Israel is providing significant support for the growth in demand for risk assets, and expectations of negotiations between contact groups starting this week are further

Pati Gani 10:04 2025-06-30 UTC+2

What to Pay Attention to on June 30? A Breakdown of Fundamental Events for Beginners

There are only a few macroeconomic reports scheduled for Monday. Perhaps the most important is the final Q1 GDP report in the United Kingdom. Let us recall that the British

Paolo Greco 06:02 2025-06-30 UTC+2

GBP/USD Overview – June 30: Nonfarm Payrolls, Powell, and Unemployment

The GBP/USD currency pair rose by 300 pips over the past week and appears to be in no hurry to stop. Even on Friday, the price failed to initiate

Paolo Greco 03:37 2025-06-30 UTC+2

EUR/USD Overview – June 30: European Inflation and Another Round of Lagarde Speeches

The EUR/USD currency pair has been rising for five consecutive months. During this time, we've only seen a few minor downward corrections, each ending in another collapse of the U.S

Paolo Greco 03:37 2025-06-30 UTC+2

U.S. Dollar – Weekly Preview

The American news background will once again play a key role for the dollar and, therefore, for the market and the vast majority of instruments. This past week, only

Chin Zhao 00:34 2025-06-30 UTC+2

British Pound – Weekly Preview

The situation for the British pound in the market and news landscape is quite similar. For the pound, two rate cuts by the Bank of England in 2025 or zero

Chin Zhao 00:34 2025-06-30 UTC+2
Can't speak right now?
Ask your question in the chat.
Widget callback
 

Dear visitor,

Your IP address shows that you are currently located in the USA. If you are a resident of the United States, you are prohibited from using the services of InstaFintech Group including online trading, online transfers, deposit/withdrawal of funds, etc.

If you think you are seeing this message by mistake and your location is not the US, kindly proceed to the website. Otherwise, you must leave the website in order to comply with government restrictions.

Why does your IP address show your location as the USA?

  • - you are using a VPN provided by a hosting company based in the United States;
  • - your IP does not have proper WHOIS records;
  • - an error occurred in the WHOIS geolocation database.

Please confirm whether you are a US resident or not by clicking the relevant button below. If you choose the wrong option, being a US resident, you will not be able to open an account with InstaForex anyway.

We are sorry for any inconvenience caused by this message.