Australian Dollar Falls to Multi-Year Lows After Soft Employment Report

The Australian dollar fell to its lowest levels against the U.S. dollar since August 2010 on Thursday, on the heels of disappointing employment data.

Late Wednesday, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that the number of people employed unexpectedly fell by 22,600 in December, missing expectations of a rise of 7.5K. The prior months figure was revised lower to 15.4K. The Australian unemployment rate remained at 5.8%, in line with analyst expectations.

The weak labor market data fueled speculation that the RBA could cut interest rates again this year to stimulate the economy. RBA Governor Glenn Stevens has been vocal about his open attitude towards intervening to weaken the Australian dollar, the strength of which has challenged manufacturers, making their exports more expensive. The RBA benchmark interest rate is currently at 2.5 percent, a record low.

Last month the Australian dollar sold of sharply after the Australian Financial Review quoted Stevens saying that the RBA prefers a fall in the value Australian dollar over lower interest rates, as a means to stimulate the economy.

Stevens said, "To the extent that we get some more easing in financial conditions, at this point it's probably more preferable for that to be via a lower currency at the margin than lower interest rates."

Addressing the price level of the Australian dollar he stated, "I thought US85¢ would be closer to the mark than US 95¢ ...but really, I don't think we can be that precise."

Speaking to the Australian Business Economists annual dinner in Sydney in November, Stevens said he was "open minded" on intervening to weaken the Australian dollar.

"Overall, in this episode so far, the Bank has not been convinced that large-scale intervention clearly passed the test of effectiveness versus cost. But that doesn't mean we will always eschew intervention."

He added, "Our position has long been, and remains that foreign exchange intervention can, judiciously used in the right circumstances, be effective and useful."

In the December RBA policy statement, Stevens reiterated his opinion that the exchange rate was “uncomfortably high."

Comments from the IMF in November also added pressure to the Australian currency. In a preliminary statement the IMF recommended accommodative monetary policy, stating "With growth currently on the soft side, the real exchange rate still overvalued and weighing on the non-mining sector, and inflation within the target range, monetary policy should remain accommodative."

At that time IMF deputy managing director Min Zhu added "The Australian dollar is overvalued by around 10 per cent from a medium-term point of view."

AUD/USD Monthly Chart

Looking at the monthly AUD/USD chart we can see that so far January marks its third consecutive month of losses. The Aussie found support today at around 0.8768, drawing nearer to the 0.85 level referenced by RBA Governor Stevens last month.