AUD/USD Risk Proximity and Volatility:What Traders Need to Know

AUD/USD Takes a Leg Higher in Early Asian Trading: A Look at the Factors Driving Risk Appetite
In early Asian trading, AUD/USD saw a surge in risk proximity, hitting the 0.6730 mark before retracing and trading unchanged. This movement was accompanied by a broader expansion of risk appetite, particularly in high beta currencies, thanks to coordinated efforts from major central banks aimed at addressing liquidity concerns. In this article, we will take a closer look at the factors driving this movement in AUD/USD, and what traders can expect in the near future.

Factors Driving AUD/USD Risk Proximity
Central Bank Coordination
The main factor driving the surge in risk proximity for AUD/USD was the coordinated action taken by major central banks to address the liquidity crunch in financial markets. This included the US Federal Reserve, the Bank of Japan, the Bank of England, the European Central Bank, and the Swiss National Bank, who all agreed to provide dollar liquidity to their respective banking systems. This helped to ease concerns about liquidity and increase investor confidence, driving risk appetite and boosting high beta currencies like the Australian dollar.

Economic Data
Another factor driving risk proximity for AUD/USD is the release of positive economic data, particularly from China, which is Australia's largest trading partner. This data included a better-than-expected reading for the Caixin Manufacturing PMI, which showed a rise to 51.7 in December from 51.8 in November. This suggests that China's manufacturing sector is expanding at a faster pace, which bodes well for Australia's export-oriented economy.

US Political Uncertainty
US political uncertainty has also been a factor driving risk proximity for AUD/USD, with the ongoing impeachment proceedings against President Trump contributing to a general sense of unease in the markets. This has led some investors to seek out safe-haven assets, like gold, which has seen a surge in value in recent weeks. However, the coordinated action by central banks to address liquidity concerns has helped to mitigate the impact of this uncertainty on AUD/USD.

Trade Tensions
Finally, ongoing trade tensions between the US and China have also been a factor driving risk proximity for AUD/USD, as Australia is heavily dependent on Chinese demand for its exports. However, recent signs of progress in trade negotiations between the two countries, including the signing of a phase one trade deal, have helped to ease concerns and boost investor confidence.

What Traders Can Expect in the Near Future
Looking ahead, traders can expect continued volatility in AUD/USD, as the factors driving risk proximity are likely to remain in play for the foreseeable future. Ongoing trade tensions and political uncertainty in the US could continue to weigh on the markets, while positive economic data from China and central bank action to address liquidity concerns could help to support risk appetite and boost high beta currencies like the Australian dollar.

Conclusion
In summary, the surge in risk proximity for AUD/USD in early Asian trading was driven by a combination of factors, including central bank coordination, positive economic data, US political uncertainty, and ongoing trade tensions. Traders can expect continued volatility in the near future, as these factors are likely to remain in play. However, the coordinated action by major central banks to address liquidity concerns has helped to mitigate the impact of these factors on AUD/USD.