Global Central Banks Hold Rates Amid Iran War-Driven Energy Price Surge 
Bank of Japan Officials Signal Continued Interest Rate Hikes Amid Inflation Concerns 
Bank of Japan Eyes April Rate Hike Despite Inflation Dip, ING Says 
China Holds Benchmark Loan Prime Rate Steady for Tenth Consecutive Month 
BOJ Holds Interest Rates Steady Amid Middle East Uncertainty 
Goldman Sachs Raises ECB Rate Hike Forecast Amid Persistent Energy-Driven Inflation 
Fed Rate Cut Hopes Fade as Oil Prices Stoke Inflation Fears 
ANZ and Westpac Forecast Two RBA Rate Hikes in March and May 2026 
J.P. Morgan Now Expects Two ECB Rate Hikes Amid Inflation Pressures 
Paraguay Central Bank Holds Interest Rate at 5.5% Amid Slowing Growth 
Taiwan Central Bank Expected to Hold Interest Rates Steady Through 2027 
Australian retail sales numbers have disappointed the streets, actual prints are at -0.1% where consensus was at 0.3% in Feb with consumer sentiment slipping back into 'cautiously pessimistic' territory in Dec-Feb. Jan retail sales grew by 0.4%, the lift following a soft end to 2016. The recent pattern has been driven by significant moves in 'household goods' retail due to the closure of the Masters Home Improvement chain.
Consequently, AUDUSD contained in a 0.7600-0.7700 range.
AUDUSD in medium term perspectives: At the risk of testing 0.7800 during the next few weeks as USD longs are pared. Longer term we expect to see it slightly lower to around 0.7600. A steady hand from the Fed in June plus an optimistic RBA should limit downside on AUDUSD during the next few months.
Further out, though, the underlying AUD trend should be gently lower, as growing bulk commodity supply gradually cools the 2016 price surge. Iron ore should be back under $80/tonne by June, with further (modest) declines likely in H2 2017.
