The pound Australian dollar exchange rate increased on Thursday, as weakness in both currencies battled it out with the pound coming out on top. The GBP/AUD hit a day’s high of AUS$1.7402, still some 1.3% away from its recent high earlier in the month. But, when taken on a broader perspective, the pound Australian dollar exchange rate is trading around its highest levels since September last year.
Interestingly the declining value of the Australian dollar ties in with a decline in the price of iron ore, which is also trading at the lowest level for 7 months. The price of iron ore is highly correlated to the Australian dollar because it is Australia’s largest single export earner, accounting for more than 15% of total exports.
Why does this matter? Australian iron ore needs to be purchased using Australian dollars. So if the demand or expected demand for the metal increases, the price of the metal increases. Meaning the demand for Australian dollar will also increase. The reverse is also true, which is what we’ve seen over the last seven months and what has helped boost the pound Australian exchange rate over the same period.
Soft UK GDP keeps GBP/AUD upwards trend capped
Meanwhile, demand for the pound was also weak. Albeit it stronger than demand for the Australian dollar as data showed that UK economic growth was not as great as expected in the first three months of the year. It rose by 0.2% – down from 0.3%. Delving deeper into the figures, estimated growth in the service sector, which accounts for around 80% of UK economic output, was revised down to 0.2% from 0.3% as households rein in their spending, with higher prices and lower wages starting to bite.
Why does this matter to the pound? Investors want to put their money into countries where growth prospects are strong. As such, they will tend to move investments out of weakening economies and into those perceived to be strengthening. As investments are sold off in the weakening economy, the supply of the local currency will increase and thus lower the value of the currency. So, when an economic indicator, such as growth comes in worse than expected or revised downwards, the value of that currency tends devalue.
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