2016.07.2200:50:00UTC+00Commodity Currencies Extend Slide Amid Risk Aversion

Commodity currencies such as the Australian, the New Zealand and the Canadian dollars continued to be weak against their major counterparts in the Asian session on Friday amid risk aversion, with the negative lead from Wall Street, fading stimulus expectations and fall in crude oil prices overnight dampening investor sentiment.

Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda ruled out the possible use of "helicopter money" to tackle deflation in Japan, dampening investor sentiment.

As was widely expected, the European Central Bank on Thursday left its key interest rates unchanged in its first policy session after "Brexit". But ECB President Mario Draghi did not offer any clues on future policy easing in September after he said that policymakers require more time to assess the need for additional stimulus measures in the present economic outlook.

Meanwhile, Crude oil for September delivery are currently down $0.02 at $44.73 a barrel. Crude oil prices tumbled as a brief rally fizzled out on expectations the global supply glut will worsen.

Thursday, the Australian, the New Zealand and the Canadian dollars fell against their major rivals. The Australian dollar fell 0.28 percent against the U.S. dollar, 0.70 percent against the yen and 0.23 percent against the euro.

The NZ dollar fell 0.37 percent against the U.S. dollar, 1.34 percent against the yen and 0.89 percent against the euro. The Canadian dollar fell 0.03 percent against the U.S. dollar, 1.19 percent against the yen and 0.18 percent against the euro.

In the Asian session, the Australian dollar fell to an 8-day low of 78.97 against the yen, from yesterday's closing value of 79.29. The aussie may test support near the 75.00 region.

Against the U.S. and the New Zealand dollars, the aussie dropped to 0.7465 and 1.0687 from yesterday's closing quotes of 0.7494 and 1.0710, respectively. If the aussie extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 0.72 against the greenback and 1.03 against the kiwi.

The aussie slipped to 1.4762 against the euro, from yesterday's closing value of 1.4705. On the downside, 1.51 is seen as the next support level for the aussie.

Against the Canadian dollar, the aussie edged down to 0.9785 from an early 3-day high of 0.9718. The aussie is likely to find support around the 0.95 area.

The NZ dollar fell to nearly a 2-week low of 73.72 against the yen, from yesterday's closing value of 74.02. The kiwi may test support near the 71.00 region.

Against the euro and the U.S. dollar, the kiwi edged down to 1.5800 and 0.6974 from yesterday's closing quotes of 1.5754 and 0.6996, respectively. If the kiwi extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 1.62 against the euro and 0.67 against the greenback.

The Canadian dollar fell to nearly a 2-week low of 1.3112 against the U.S. dollar, from yesterday's closing value of 1.3087. The loonie is likely to find support around the 1.32 area.

Against the euro and the yen, the loonie dropped to a 9-day low of 1.4452 and an 8-day low of 80.58 from yesterday's closing quotes of 1.4427 and 80.85, respectively. If the loonie extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 1.46 against the euro and 77.00 against the yen.

Looking ahead, Markit's final PMI reports from major European economies for July are due to be released later in the day.

In the New York session, Canada consumer prices and producer price indexes for June, Canadian retail sales data for May and flash U.S. manufacturing PMI for July are due for release.