AUD/USD price today

The Australian dollar to US dollar price (AUD/USD) shows how many US dollars one Australian dollar is worth. This pair is one of the major forex market symbols, and because of its dependence on raw material exports and trade with China, the Australian dollar is a well-known representative of "commodity currencies" and of the market's risk appetite. On this page you can see the live AUD/USD rate, the candlestick chart and its technical events, and further down you will learn about the factors affecting the Aussie, the impact of China's economy, trading hours in Tehran time and pip value.

What is the AUD/USD pair?

In AUD/USD, the Australian dollar is the base currency and the US dollar is the quote currency; a figure of 0.6500 means each Australian dollar is worth 0.65 US dollars. A rising figure means the Australian dollar is strengthening, and a falling one means the US dollar is strengthening. Traders call this pair the "Australian" or the "Aussie".

The Australian dollar has been free-floating since 1983 and is today one of the most traded currencies in the world; although Australia's economy is smaller than those of the US, the eurozone or Japan, its share of global currency trading is far greater than its economic weight. See the Toman rate of the Australian dollar in Iran's market on the Australian dollar price page; that rate comes from the domestic open market and is not the same as the global AUD/USD.

The Australian dollar: a commodity currency and a mirror of China

Australia is one of the world's largest exporters of iron ore, coal, liquefied natural gas and gold. When the prices of these commodities rise, Australia's export income grows and demand for the Australian dollar increases. That is why AUD/USD has moved in the same direction as metal and commodity prices in many periods.

China is Australia's largest trading partner and the biggest buyer of its iron ore. As a result, Chinese economic data such as the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), industrial production, the trade balance and GDP, and even news from China's housing and construction sector, have a noticeable effect on the Australian dollar. Many traders see AUD/USD as an indirect way to react to the state of China's economy.

Other factors affecting AUD/USD

1. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA)

The Reserve Bank of Australia's interest rate decisions, along with the statement and press conference that follow, are among the most important events for this pair. Meeting minutes are also released a few weeks later and can shift expectations. See a comparison of the RBA rate with the Federal Reserve's on the global interest rates page.

2. Australian economic data

The monthly employment report, inflation (released both quarterly and as a monthly indicator), quarterly GDP, the trade balance and retail sales are Australia's key data. These figures are usually released early in the morning Tehran time; see the exact times in Teagle's economic calendar .

3. Global risk sentiment

The Australian dollar is a "risk-on currency": when stock markets are heading up and investors are seeking higher returns, the Aussie usually strengthens, and during crises and flights to the dollar and yen it is one of the first currencies to fall.

4. Carry trade

In periods when Australian interest rates have been noticeably higher than those of Japan or the US, the Australian dollar has been a popular carry trade destination; that is, traders sold the low-yielding currency and held the Aussie to earn the interest rate differential. These trades are unwound quickly in crises and intensify the Aussie's decline. Calculate the overnight holding gain or cost with the swap calculator .

The best time to trade the Australian dollar

Unlike the European pairs, AUD/USD is active in the Asia-Pacific session. The Sydney and Tokyo sessions run in the early hours and morning Tehran time, and Australian and Chinese data are released in this same window. Other high volume is seen during the London–New York overlap and when US data is released in the evening Tehran time.

Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere and its daylight saving time is in effect during the months when Europe and the US are on standard time, so the time gap between sessions changes several times a year. See the exact times on the global market hours page.

Pip value in AUD/USD

In AUD/USD each pip equals 0.0001, and since the quote currency is the US dollar, its value is fixed: $10 for one standard lot (100,000 Australian dollars), $1 for 0.1 lot and $0.1 for 0.01 lot. Work out the right position size for your desired risk with the trading calculator .

AUD/USD in technical analysis

The Aussie usually forms a range during the Asian session, and once European and US liquidity comes in, a breakout or reversal from that range occurs. Because its fundamental drivers, namely commodities and China's economy, change in multi-month cycles, AUD/USD trends can also be long, and trading against the main trend carries more risk. A summary of indicator signals is in the "Technical events" section of this page, and you can examine the candlestick chart at the top of the page in different timeframes.

AUD/USD correlation with other symbols

• New Zealand dollar to US dollar (NZD/USD): Very strong positive correlation; two neighboring economies with a similar structure.
• Gold ounce: Australia is a major gold producer, and in many periods the Aussie and gold move in the same direction.
• Stock indices: In a risk-on environment, the Aussie usually moves in line with global stock markets.
• US dollar to Canadian dollar: Both are commodity currencies, but since CAD is on the second side, it is usually seen moving opposite to AUD/USD.

Risk management tips for trading AUD/USD

• Follow news from China: Unexpected data or a policy decision in China can move the Aussie without any news from Australia.
• Correlation with the Kiwi: Buying AUD/USD and NZD/USD at the same time is effectively one trade with double the risk.
• Early-morning gaps: Important Australian data is released when Iranian traders are usually asleep; protect overnight open positions with a stop loss.
• Reputable broker: To compare spreads, execution and regulation status, visit forex broker reviews .

See other currency pairs in the list of forex market symbols . The information on this page is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell; the displayed rate comes from market data sources and may differ slightly from your broker's price. Trading with leverage carries high risk and you may lose part or all of your capital.