The AUD/USD opened at $0.8180 this morning and spent the early hours of the new year’s eve session in a tight range not far from $0.8170. It moved higher and then settled again in a narrow $0.8175 to $0.8191 range, showing little reaction to some month-end Australian data from the RBA. Aussie-dollar continued to hold near $0.8180 after that before the release of HSBC’s China final PMI reading sparked a rally in the aussie. The aussie pushed through $0.8200 in very thin liquidity and then broke through $0.8207 for a high of $0.8218 before it stabilised just off the high. Aussie-dollar last traded at $0.8204. A noted option expiry at the session low today may help to contain the downside while further support is noted down at last week’s $0.8104 Christmas Day low
