AUD/USD: Evolution and Outlook

We'll examine the drivers that have shaped the AUD/USD since 2020 and wrap up by discussing the pair's future movements.

AUD/USD: Evolution and Outlook

In this article, we'll examine the key drivers that have shaped the direction of the AUD/USD pair since 2020. We'll wrap up by discussing factors that could influence the pair's future movements.

1. January 2020–February 2021: Strong Uptrend Following the Pandemic's Volatile Phase

During the early stages of 2020, when the pandemic began to spread, market uncertainty led to a surge in demand for safe-haven assets such as the U.S. dollar. This resulted in considerable fluctuations in the AUD/USD exchange rate.

Following the initial decline, the AUD/USD pair quickly showed a lengthy white real body by the end of March 2020. Note how the next session displayed a pullback which stopped at the midpoint of this large white or green body before resuming the pair's upward trajectory.

AUD/USD: Strong Uptrend Until February 2021 (Weekly Chart)
AUD/USD: Strong Uptrend Until February 2021 (Weekly Chart)

2. March 2021–September 2023: The Peak and the Ensuing Downturn

The AUD/USD gave its first sign of a potential peak with a bearish engulfing pattern in the last week of February 2021. The price range associated with this pattern established a resistance zone, which was successfully tested via a dark cloud cover in May 2021.

Fueled by the decline in commodity prices and the Federal Reserve's hiking cycle, the pair exhibited an extended decline for over two years.

AUD/USD: The Top in Early 2021 and the Subsequent Decline (Weekly Chart)
AUD/USD: The Top in Early 2021 and the Subsequent Decline (Weekly Chart)

3. Outlook for Late 2023 and Throughout 2024

While the short-term direction of the AUD/USD pair remains uncertain, several critical elements could shape its future path:

  • Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Market Sentiment: Advances in AI technology have the potential to shift market sentiment, possibly making safer assets like the U.S. dollar less appealing.
  • Concerns Over Economic Downturn: The aggressive rate hikes by the Federal Reserve, along with red flags such as an inverted yield curve and other leading economic indicators, suggest the possibility of a global economic slowdown in 2024. In times of global uncertainty or geopolitical tensions, investors often turn to the U.S. dollar as a "safe-haven" asset.
  • Growing National Debt: A notable rise in the federal budget deficit is raising alarms about mounting public debt, which could influence the value of the USD in the near term.