ForexLive Asia-Pacific FX news wrap: AUD dropped after CPI inflation data

  • Forex news for Asian trading on Wednesday, January 29, 2025

It was a more subdued day in Asia today with no tariff talk like we had on Monday and Tuesday this week to spur outsized volatility.

The Bank of Japan published the minutes of its December 2024 meeting. Members expressed various shades of confidence in the outlook for inflation, wages, the economy, and monetary policy. But, for us here today on January 29 the meaning of it all was moot (having little or no practical relevance). After all, the Bank of Japan raised its short-term rates just last week, at its January 24 meeting.

From Australia, we had Q4 inflation data, which came in lower than in Q3, below market central estimates, and below Reserve Bank of Australia projections.

  • headline inflation fell to 2.4%, just under the midpoint of the RBA’s 2 – 3% target band
  • the trimmed mean, a measure of core, or underlying, inflation came in at 3.2% y/y, which while still above the top of the band was a 3-year low (0.5% y/y)
  • a caveat to all this is that some of the inflation moderation was driven by government rebates on electricity and other subsidies, which may reverse once they expire

This was all encouraging and indeed has prompted a repricing of a Reserve Bank of Australia February RBA cut to around 90% now.

AUD/USD was marked lower on the data release and has seen a small retracement since.

Major FX, otherwise, traded in a subdued fashion.

China, Singapore and Hong Kong were all on holiday today for Lunar New Year. Happy New Year to those celebrating!

aud wrap cpi inflation Australia 29 January 2025 2

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