Australian dollar hit as global growth concerns rise

The Australian dollar took a hit on Monday as global growth concerns were on the rise.

Bonds extended their rally, driving yields to all-time lows.

Australian dollar price

The Australian dollar took a hit on Monday at $0.7075 at time of writing, falling after last week’s top at $0.7168.

The New Zealand dollar was also struggling to keep recent highs of $0.6938, dropping to $0.6875.

Yields on 10-year Australian bonds have dived almost 20 basis points in the past seven days, hitting record lows at 1.77%, while. New Zealand's 10-year bonds dropped to 2.008 %.

Markets showed clear signs of pricing in a rate cut form the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), after its decision to leave the cash rate unchanged at 1.50% last week.

Weak European data

Poor manufacturing data from Europe and across the globe last week, weighed on risk sentiment and prices for industrial commodities.

IG market analyst, Kyle Rodda says the manufacturing PMI in Europe has dropped well into “contractionary” territory.

‘Most troubling, is that the core of this is apparently being driven by weakness in Europe’s power-house economy, Germany. Remembering 50 is a neutral print when it come to PMI data: German Manufacturing PMI printed a woeful 44.7.’Mr. Rodda said.

Poor economic data globally also saw inflation expectations crash adding pressure on the longer-end of the yield curve.

US Stocks

The yield on US 10-year Treasuries, was 1 basis point lower at 2.432%, while the yield on the equivalent Japanese note was off 2bp, at minus 0.087% , its lowest since September 2016.

The fall comes after US stocks dropped to their lowest since early January on Friday.

IG market analyst Kyle Rodda says economic health on a global scale is worsening. ‘The world economy’s health is looking worse than previously imagined, and the re-introduction of dovish rhetoric from global central bankers is proving an inadequate remedy.’ Mr. Rodda said.