A$ Higher, Finding Support At 66c

AUDUSD was already trending higher ahead of the solid retail sales data but rose further following the release to reach an intraday high of 0.6627 soon after. It has moderated since but is still 0.1% higher at 0.6607. Earlier it shifted below 66c to a low of 0.6596. The USD index is slightly higher.

• AUDNZD is up 0.1% to 1.0878. It approached 1.089 earlier reaching a high of 1.0887. AUDJPY is flat at 95.39 and well below Monday’s levels. Aussie is up 0.3% versus the euro at 0.6065 and +0.2% against the pound at 0.5232.
• Equity markets are mixed with the ASX up 0.2%, Nikkei +0.5% but Hang Seng down 1.1%. S&P e-minis are 0.1% higher. Brent crude is down 0.4% to $73.96/bbl after Wednesday’s rally. Copper is 0.1% lower and iron ore is just below $112.50/t.
• Later today Fed Chair Powell takes part in a discussion at the Bank of Spain and Bostic speaks on the US economic outlook. On the data front revised Q1 GDP, jobless claims, pending home sales print and euro area economic sentiment. Tomorrow the RBA’s private sector credit data prints.