The Reserve Bank of Australia kept August rate hike bubbling today with the release of the July meeting minutes. The Bank said the case for a July rate hike was strong, but was pipped by a stronger case for on hold. AUD/USD had traded a little higher, mainly due tdue to a dip for the US dollar, leading into the release of the minutes and has since come back to be not not a lot changed for the session as I post. A heads up, the RBA is awaiting the next CPI release, due 26 July Sydney time, to help guide the next meeting decision on August 1.

Apart from the RBA minutes there was little news, data, not central bank events during the session to move major FX much at all. Small ranges prevailed.

As I post a spokesman for China's 'state planner' (the National Development and Reform Commission of the People's Republic of China (NDRC)) is saying soothing things about promoting economic growth in the country and prompting a small flow into risk.

Asian equity markets:

  • Japan’s Nikkei 225 +0.1%

  • China’s Shanghai Composite -0.6%

  • Hong Kong’s Hang Seng -1.7%

  • South Korea’s KOSPI -0.6%

  • Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 -0.4%

usdyen wrap chart jpy 18 July 2023