AUD/USD drops as risk sentiment weakens, Fed rate cut hopes fade

• The Australian Dollar declines as falling equity markets weigh on risk appetite.
• Australia's steady wage growth supports a cautious stance from the central bank.
• The US Dollar remains supported by fading expectations of Federal Reserve rate cuts.

AUD/USD trades lower around 0.6480 on Wednesday, down 0.40% at the time of writing. The Australian Dollar (AUD) is losing ground against the US Dollar (USD), pressured by a sharp deterioration in global risk sentiment. The drop in Equity markets, driven by concerns over overstretched valuations in the artificial intelligence sector, is prompting investors to adopt a more cautious stance and is weighing particularly on cyclical currencies such as the AUD. Australia's heavy reliance on commodity exports amplifies these pressures during periods of risk aversion.

On the domestic front, Australia's Wage Price Index rose 0.8% QoQ in the third quarter, in line with expectations, while annual wage growth remained stable at 3.4%. These figures confirm steady wage dynamics, consistent with inflation that remains elevated but contained, reinforcing the case for a gradual approach to monetary policy from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA). The RBA Minutes published on Tuesday highlighted a more balanced policy stance, suggesting that the Cash Rate could remain unchanged for longer if incoming data stay firm.

Recent labour market data support this cautious approach as the Australian Unemployment Rate fell to 4.3% in October from 4.5% previously, while Employment Change surged to 42.2K, well above expectations. According to ASX 30-Day Interbank Cash Rate Futures, the chance of an RBA rate cut in December remains low, around 8%, indicating limited expectations for near-term easing.

In the United States (US), the US Dollar remains firm. The US Dollar Index (DXY) is holding near elevated levels, supported by increasingly tempered expectations of Federal Reserve (Fed) rate cuts. Market participants now await the labour market data, with September Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) due Thursday, to gain fresh insight into the policy outlook. The CME FedWatch tool indicates a 49% chance of a 25 basis-point rate cut in December, down from 67% a week earlier.

Recent comments from Fed officials underscore this caution. Thomas Barkin, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, noted that while the labour market appears more balanced, uncertainty persists over whether inflation can sustainably return to the 2% target. Philip Jefferson, Vice Chair of the Federal Reserve, warned that risks to employment now outweigh upward risks to inflation, arguing for a "slow" approach to any further policy adjustments.

Data from the Department of Labor shows Initial Jobless Claims rising slightly to 232,000, while the ADP report indicates moderate job losses in recent weeks. Political uncertainty also lingers after US President Donald Trump stated that he would "love" to remove Fed Chair Jerome Powell immediately, introducing an additional layer of institutional volatility.