There were a number of data points just published in Australia:
- Australia Retail Sales for December: -0.5% m/m (expected -0.2%)
- Australia trade balance for December: AUD 5223bn surplus (expected AUD 5.6bn)
- National Australia Bank business survey for Q4: Business confidence -1 (prior -1)
- Australia Retail Sales excluding inflation for Q4: 0.5% q/q (expected 0.3%)
A mixed bag but on balance maybe a tad more encouraging than not? Trade surplus down despite growing exports, imports grew more - combine growing imports with the better Q4 retail number and maybe a bit of a crack of sunlight for the RBA …. at least way back in late 2019.
AUD was marked down initially, the (very thin and hard to even see!) wick on the penultimate candle) and then taken up a few tics:
