Australian dollar strengthens

The Australian dollar has risen Friday, buying 69.01 US cents from 68.71 US cents on Thursday.

On Thursday morning, the local currency was at 68.82 US cents from 68.79 US cents on Wednesday.

It was near a five-month low as investors piled into wagers for two interest rate cuts this year, and even the chance of a third in 2020.

The Aussie was pinned at 68.83 US cents on Wednesday, just a whisker above its recent rough of 68.65 and well off the 69.34 top briefly reached at the start of the week.

Markets are almost certain the Reserve Bank of Australia will cut its 1.5 per cent rate by a quarter point when its policy board meets on June 4, the first easing since mid-2016.

RBA Governor Philip Lowe all but said as much in a speech on Tuesday, prompting all four of Australia’s major banks to tip a June move.

Futures imply a 93 per cent probability of a cut next month, and are fully priced for 1.0 per cent by November.

“The governor has indicated in about the clearest possible language that a rate cut is likely imminent,” said Nomura analyst Andrew Ticehurst.

“We look for a total of 50 basis points of easing this year, with a second cut perhaps most likely in August,” he added. “The most likely direction for AUD/USD again appears lower, at around 67-68 cents over coming months.”

Adding to the case for stimulus were data showing construction work done fell a real 1.9 per cent in the March quarter, led by home building and engineering.

Citi economist Josh Williams said the disappointing figures reinforced expectations of another poor reading for gross domestic product (GDP), following surprising weakness in the previous six months.

He forecast growth of just 0.4 per cent for the first quarter, which would see the annual pace slow sharply to 1.7 per cent from an already sub par 2.3 per cent.

That sombre outlook overshadowed otherwise bullish news on commodity prices as iron ore topped $US100 a tonne thanks to tight supplies and Chinese demand.

The ore is Australia’s largest export earner and the surge in prices is gifting the country with record trade surpluses, while boosting miners’ profits and tax receipts.

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