AUDUSD is at 0.70995 as of 02:40 UTC on 20 May 2026, down approximately 7 pips from the session open near 0.71067. The pair hit a session high near 0.71128 before falling 25 pips to the session low near 0.70873 after the RBA’s May meeting minutes failed to signal another rate hike.

The latest AUDUSD news centres on those RBA minutes, which confirmed the board sees room to pause after three consecutive 25bp hikes that brought the cash rate to 4.35%.^[1] That news landed on the same day US PPI came in at 6%, the hottest in nearly four years as highlighted by FXStreet, reinforcing dollar strength.^[2][6]

All prices are as of 02:40 UTC on 20 May 2026. Charts are from TradingView via Vantage and are indicative. This is not financial advice.

Key Points

• AUDUSD dropped 25 pips from a session high near 0.71128 to a session low near 0.70873 on 20 May 2026, before recovering to 0.70995 as of 02:40 UTC. The move coincided with the RBA May minutes, which signalled the board sees room to pause after cumulative tightening.
• The May RBA rate decision delivered a third consecutive 25bp hike, bringing the cash rate to 4.35%. The minutes showed the board is assessing cumulative rate impacts and external uncertainties from the Middle East conflict, while focusing on preventing any rise in long-term inflation expectations.^[1] Markets now price a hold at the 16 June meeting, with roughly one additional hike expected by year-end.^[3]
• US PPI came in at 6% year-on-year for April 2026, described by FXStreet as the hottest in nearly four years.^[2] This follows CPI and import price beats earlier in the month. CME FedWatch data shows over 50% probability of a Fed hike by year-end.^[8]

AUDUSD chart: sharp 25-pip selloff from session high

The 1-minute Vantage AUDUSD chart covers 19:45 UTC 19 May to 02:40 UTC 20 May. The pair opened near 0.71067, ranged choppily through the early Asia session, then climbed to the session high near 0.71128 around 23:30 UTC. A sharp selloff followed over approximately 90 minutes to the session low near 0.70873, with volume on the Vantage feed spiking on the down move. The partial recovery to 0.70995 shows the pair stabilising but still below the session open.

AUDUSD news today: what is driving the pair

RBA pause signal: three hikes done, June on hold

The RBA raised its cash rate to 4.35% in May, giving Australia one of the highest central bank rates in the G10.^[1] But the minutes released on 20 May did not signal a fourth hike is imminent. The board indicated it sees room to pause, while watching the cumulative impact of tightening and external factors. According to the RBA’s Statement on Monetary Policy, the Strait of Hormuz carries around 20% of global crude oil and LNG supplies, and its disruption has driven energy prices sharply higher, adding inflation uncertainty without justifying immediate further tightening.^[4][7] Markets now price a hold at the 16 June meeting, with roughly one additional hike expected by year-end, as mentioned by FXStreet.^[3]

US PPI at 6%: dollar strength keeps AUDUSD under pressure

US PPI for April hit 6% year-on-year, the hottest in nearly four years, as stated by FXStreet.^[2] This follows earlier CPI and import price beats, building a consistent picture of persistent US inflation that keeps the Fed on hold or potentially hiking. ^[1][5]

AUDUSD technical analysis: key levels

Reference levels on the Vantage AUDUSD feed. Not trade signals.

Table 1: Vantage AUDUSD CFD levels as of 02:40 UTC, 20 May 2026. Sources: TradingView, FXStreet, Trading Economics, Investing.com. Indicative only.

AUDUSD forecast: Australian dollar outlook and what to watch today

• The near-term Australian dollar forecast hinges on the RBA Governor Sarah Hunter speech, today: Per Trading Economics, Hunter is expected to maintain a cautiously hawkish stance and leave the door open for further hikes if inflation stays elevated.^[1] A softer tone than expected could add to the session’s AUDUSD selling pressure.
• Nvidia earnings, 20 May after close: A strong result supports risk appetite broadly, which may provide modest support for AUDUSD since the Aussie tends to weaken when global confidence falls. A miss would likely add to existing dollar-positive pressure on the pair.
• US data and Fed communications, ongoing: Fed minutes are expected around 20 May. Any hawkish signal would reinforce the dollar-positive backdrop that has weighed on AUDUSD this week.^[8]

On risk management: many traders may monitor the 0.7087 session low and 0.7113 session high as the immediate reference zones per Investing.com. If you are holding gold, GBPUSD, or EURUSD alongside AUDUSD, check combined USD exposure before the Hunter remarks.

Leverage cuts both ways. Position sizing relative to account equity matters more than usual on a day with an RBA speech and Nvidia earnings both live.

RISK WARNING: CFDs are complex financial instruments and carry a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You should ensure you fully understand the risks involved and carefully consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money before trading.

Disclaimer: The information is provided for educational purposes only and doesn’t take into account your personal objectives, financial circumstances, or needs. It does not constitute investment advice. We encourage you to seek independent advice if necessary. The information has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained within. This material may contain historical or past performance figures and should not be relied on. Furthermore estimates, forward-looking statements, and forecasts cannot be guaranteed. The information on this site and the products and services offered are not intended for distribution to any person in any country or jurisdiction where such distribution or use would be contrary to local law or regulation.

References

[1] “Australian Dollar – Quote – Chart – Historical Data – News – Trading Economics.” https://tradingeconomics.com/australia/currency Accessed 20 May 2026.

[2] “Aussie Dollar slips as RBA minutes get drowned out – FXStreet.” https://www.fxstreet.com/news/australian-dollar-slips-as-rba-minutes-get-drowned-out-202605192207 Accessed 20 May 2026.

[3] “AUD/USD Forecast, News and Analysis – FXStreet.” https://www.fxstreet.com/currencies/audusd Accessed 20 May 2026.

[4] “Economic Conditions – Statement on Monetary Policy May 2026 – Reserve Bank of Australia.” https://www.rba.gov.au/publications/smp/2026/may/economic-conditions.html Accessed 20 May 2026.

[5] “AUD/USD 2026 Outlook: Policy Divergence and a Shifting Dollar Trend – Forex.com.” https://www.forex.com/en-us/news-and-analysis/aud-usd-2026-outlook-policy-divergence-and-a-shifting-dollar-trend/ Accessed 20 May 2026.

[6] “AUD/USD Forecast 2026: The Australian Dollar Is Fighting Two Wars at Once – Mitrade.” https://www.mitrade.com/au/insights/forex/forex-basics/audusd-forecast-2026 Accessed 20 May 2026.

[7] “Outlook – Statement on Monetary Policy May 2026 – Reserve Bank of Australia.” https://www.rba.gov.au/publications/smp/2026/may/outlook.html Accessed 20 May 2026.

[8] “CME FedWatch Tool – CME Group.” https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html Accessed 20 May 2026.

[9] “AUD/USD technical analysis and levels – Investing.com.” https://www.investing.com/currencies/aud-usd Accessed 20 May 2026.