Australian Dollar corrects against US Dollar, US CPI takes centre stage

The Australian Dollar (AUD) is currently trading at 0.7210 against the US Dollar (USD), having dropped 0.13% in European trading on Tuesday. This decline can be attributed to the US Dollar's positive movement, as seen in the US Dollar Index (DXY) which rose by 0.1% to reach around 99.00. The US Dollar has been the strongest among major currencies against the New Zealand Dollar, according to recent data.

Traders are now focusing on the upcoming United States Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for August, which is expected to reveal that underlying inflation has been kept under control. Core prices are projected to rise by 0.19% month-on-month (2.3% year-on-year), although core goods prices may have a slight decrease. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures inflation by tracking changes in prices of a representative basket of goods and services over time.

Core CPI, which excludes volatile elements like food and fuel, is the figure central banks aim to manage, typically aiming for a 2% inflation rate. If the August CPI data shows strong inflation, the Federal Reserve may consider raising interest rates at their next meeting, potentially strengthening the US Dollar. Meanwhile, the Australian Dollar is also influenced by the Reserve Bank of Australia's Deputy Governor Andrew Hauser's interview with the ABC, with strategists at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia suggesting that the AUD could hold near 72 cents throughout the week, especially if Hauser appears hawkish.