However, as May commenced its second half, the currency found itself on a stronger footing climbing above 65 cents and then after a breather it closed the month comfortably above 66 cents. The AUD/USD traded in a 3.07 cent range in May, printing its monthly low of 0.6373 on the 4^th of the month and its monthly high of 0.6680 on the 27^th.

From a market’s perspective

The month of May was characterised by an improvement in risk sentiment, evident in broad based gains in equity markets around the globe. Investors looked through the dire hard economic data releases and instead focused their attention on the prospects of economies reopening and the implicit rebound in economic activity.

Simmering in the background

The heightening in US-China tensions was a source of market volatility and a headwind for the AUD/USD. On May 3rd remarks from US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo noting that there was ‘enormous evidence’ COVID-19 originated in a lab in China rattled markets and contributed to the AUD/USD printing its monthly low of 0.6373 on that day. Shortly after, the FT ran a frontpage article suggesting the White House and Capitol Hill were looking to match the anti-Beijing rhetoric with steps to curb supply chains and investment flows.

China’s imposition of Australian barley tariffs and ban on meat exports didn’t help the AUD/USD either, but as we moved into the second half on the month, the currency regained its mojo boosted by an increase in risk sentiment. Investors placed more weight on leading indicators such as PMI prints pointing to evidence of a rebound in activity which were also corroborated by high frequency data releases.

The US continued its anti-China rhetoric, but the lack of meaningful action left risk assets in an ebullient mood, and less concerned over a potential derailment from US-China tensions. The AUD/USD ended the month at 0.6667 and has risen to above 0.6700 at the start of June.

Download a copy of the chart:  AUD annotated chart: May 2020

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