Lawrence Villamar

US non-farm payrolls (employment) were unchanged in August, well below forecasts for a 70,000 lift in jobs. Private payrolls rose by 17,000 and hourly earnings fell by 0.1pct. But the household survey showed a 331,000 lift in jobs and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 9.1pct.

As expected the Australian Dollar remained relatively subdued throughout the Asian Session on Friday trading between a tight 30 basis point range

Investors dumped stocks and sent Treasury yields to record lows Friday as a dismal jobs report renewed fears of a recession.

The AUD/USD has broken above resistance at 1.0720 and this should set up further gains in the pair. The pullback to 1.0720 is likely to be seen as a buying opportunity, with initial targets to 1.0765. As noted previously, there is plenty of resistance between here and 1.0800

The Australian Dollar has continued to perform well against the major currencies overnight as yesterday’s stronger than expected local data helped provide a boost for the AUD.

US ICSC comparable chain store sales rose 4.6pct in August compared with a year earlier. Wholesale and luxury retailers recorded the bulk of the growth. US ISM-Manufacturing fell from 50.9 to 50.6 in July

After an initial run lower towards 1.0660, the Aussie bounced back to life after the release of stronger-than-expected retail sales data – up 0.5 per cent following a 0.1 per cent fall in June. Shoppers came out of the woodwork in July, posting the first rise in sales in three months. The Aussie spiked to a high of 1.0720 and spent most of the Asian session above US107 cents.

U.S. stocks kicked off September on a sour note, snapping a four-day winning streak as financials weakened and investors expressed repidation ahead of the government's monthly jobs report.

The Australian Dollar has opened slightly stronger this morning, up half of one US cent, after global equity markets managed further gains.

The Australian Dollar has opened slightly stronger this morning, up half of one US cent, after global equity markets managed further gains.

The ISM-Chicago purchasing managers index fell from 58.5 to 56.5 in August - the lowest levels since November 2009. The new orders sub component recorded modest weakness. US ADP private sector employment rose by 91,000 jobs in August.

The Aussie moved lower on Wednesday down to 1.0650 after private sector credit data revealed a fourth straight monthly decline.

U.S. stocks advanced Wednesday, pushing the Dow Jones Industrial Average back into positive territory for 2011 and capping a four-day winning streak that closed a volatile August.

The AUD/USD pulled back to 1.0620 before pushing higher overnight, with the Aussie helped by an interview with Chicago Fed president Charles Evans, who presented a more bearish picture of the US economy and suggested further stimulus was required. Traders will continue to focus on the upside will a pullback to 1.0635 seen as buyable.

The Australian Dollar remains firm after the release of the August FOMC Meeting’s minutes, which revealed some division, and set the scene for a very interesting September gathering.

The US Conference Board reported that its consumer confidence index hit a 2-year low of 44.5 in August, down from 59.2 in July. The S&P/Case-Shiller home price index measure of 20 metropolitan cities eased by 0.1pct in seasonally adjusted terms in June. In unadjusted terms, prices were up 1.1pct.

Traders took the Aussie higher in the lead-up to yesterday’s local building approvals data, rallying to a 1.0685 intraday peak.

U.S. stocks rose Tuesday as talk of the Federal Reserve implementing yet another round of quantitative easing helped push the market higher for a third straight session.

The AUD/USD has gained around 80 pips after breaking above resistance at 1.0600 in yesterday’s session, but it’s now run into another layer of resistance at 1.0680. We can expect more congested trade until we break above 1.0800. Traders will continue to favour the long side with a pullback toward 1.0600 seen as a chance to take new longs.

The AUD is higher this morning, currently trading at USD1.0660, as improved market sentiment and a positive night on offshore equity markets boosted the “risk on” play and in turn our local currency.

US consumer spending rose by 0.8pct in July - marking the fastest pace in five months. The pickup in spending was supported by strong demand for motor vehicles as Japan related supply restraints faded. When adjusted for inflation spending was up 0.5pct, the largest increase in 18 months.

There was plenty of support for the Aussie at 1.0550 during the Asian session on Monday as risk sentiment continued to improve. The unit climbed steadily to an intraday high of 1.0625 after strong leads from local and offshore equity markets.

U.S. stocks rallied Monday in some of the thinnest trading of the summer, highlighted by gains for insurers amid relief over Hurricane Irene's relatively light touch on major cities. U.S. stocks rallied Monday in some of the thinnest trading of the summer, highlighted by gains for insurers amid relief over Hurricane Irene's relatively light touch on major cities.

The much anticipated speech by US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke to potentially stimulate US economic activity yielded no clear cut policy actions, however enough was said to strengthen US equity markets and push the AUD firmly into the mid 1.0500’s.

AUD/USD broke above the upside of the symmetrical triangle formation after Bernanke’s Jackson Hole speech and this will change the market’s view to bullish

US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke didn´t unveil fresh stimulus measures in a speech delivered on Friday but said that the central bank was ready to use additional tools to boost growth. The September policy meeting has been extended to two days to consider new measures.

The Australian Dollar was supported on Friday after the Governor of the Reserve Bank Glenn Stevens was reasonably upbeat on Australia's economic prospects during a speech to a parliamentary committee.

U.S. stocks closed higher in whipsawed trading Friday as investors applauded Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's stern remarks about the struggling economy and his decision to leave the door open for additional accommodative measures.

With heaps of free activities and entertainment, there's nothing like the value of the 2011 Royal Melbourne Show.