Australia Westpac Consumer Confidence rose from previous 4.1% to 6% in August

Aug 18, 2026

WTI flatlines near $84.00 as Trump rejects truce extension

West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the US crude oil benchmark, is trading around $84.00 during the early Asian trading hours on Tuesday. WTI steadies as traders continue to assess the developments surrounding Middle East conflicts.

Australian Dollar gains as US Dollar struggles amid fading Fed rate hike bets

AUD/USD extends its gains for the third successive day, trading around 0.7110 during the Asian hours on Tuesday. The currency pair continues to appreciate as the US Dollar (USD) remains subdued amid fading expectations for further rate hikes by the Federal Reserve (Fed).