The Australian dollar fell further below $0.690, approaching a three-month low as broad US dollar strength outweighed a rebound in domestic employment data. Australia’s economy added 40,300 jobs in May, rebounding from a revised decline of 40,600 in April and exceeding market forecasts for a 30,000 increase, while the unemployment rate edged down to 4.4% from 4.5%, as expected. The latest labor market report comes on top of Wednesday’s mixed consumer inflation figures, which have left markets divided on another interest rate hike, priced in at 50% likely by year’s end rather than at the August meeting. RBA Deputy Governor Andrew Hauser said on Wednesday that the central bank still has more work to do to bring inflation back to its 2-3% target, indicating that further policy tightening may be needed as underlying price pressures remain elevated. Meanwhile, the US dollar remained broadly stronger as investors continued to price in Federal Reserve interest rate hikes later this year.
