The Australian retail sales data as well as the RBA interest rate statement added to the strength of the Aussie against the US Dollar. The first-mentioned report caused a 0.24% or 19 pips drop in the pair, followed by a 0.15% decline on the RBA release.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed that the country’s retail sales eased more than anticipated in December, but still made a rebound in the final quarter of 2017. Retail sales fell 0.5% in the reported month, following an upwardly revised 1.3% increase registered previously. In the further release, the Reserve Bank of Australia stuck to its upbeat assessment of the country’s economy, keeping the key interest rate unchanged at 1.50%.
