2026.01.0502:50:36UTC+00Aussie Dollar Extends Losses

The Australian dollar dipped below $0.668 on Monday, extending its losses from the prior week as renewed geopolitical tensions dampened global risk sentiment. This currency, heavily linked to commodities and often seen as a barometer for global risk appetite, fell in value following the United States' capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. This decline underscores the vulnerability of risk-sensitive currencies to worldwide upheavals, even when there is minimal direct impact on domestic economies. Despite this, Australia's relatively high bond yields offered some support amid market speculation of potential interest rate increases. Currently, investors believe there is approximately a 39% chance that the Reserve Bank of Australia might raise its cash rate as early as February. Attention is now tightly focused on the inflation data due on Wednesday. Markets project that the annual consumer price index will decrease to 3.7% in November 2025, down slightly from 3.8% the previous month.