(Bloomberg) -- Hedge funds are loading up on positions that profit from a weaker Australian dollar as the threat of US tariffs and the impact of a sluggish Chinese economy bludgeon the currency.
Leveraged funds boosted their bearish Aussie wagers to the most since March 2022, Commodity Futures Trading Commission data for the week ended Dec. 31 show. The positions may have room to extend, given the Aussie’s sensitivity to changes in risk sentiment.
“The Aussie is maintaining its mantle as the Group-of-10 ‘whipping boy’ for anything that may ail non-US” growth, said Ray Attrill, head of foreign-exchange strategy at National Australia Bank Ltd. “The build-up of speculative shorts in December is fully consistent with the horrible Aussie price action through the month.”
Australia’s dollar has weakened more than 7% against the greenback and fallen against every Group-of-10 peer except the kiwi over the last three months as investors abandoned growth-linked assets. Australia’s economy is also being hurt by the slowdown in China, its largest trading partner, giving traders another reason to sell the Aussie.
The Aussie inched up 0.1% to 62.49 US cents in Asian trading on Tuesday.
“The bets against the Aussie are unsurprising,” said Carol Kong, strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia. “Investors are positioning for the upcoming four years of uncertain US policy making and interest-rate path ahead of President Donald Trump’s inauguration.”
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