Summary
The AUD rose to an intraday high of 0.7074 after the RBA’s 11 August decision — up from 0.7049 pre-decision, settling at 0.7056 as at 4pm AEST; the hawkish hold tone — Bullock confirmed “will raise rates again if needed” — was slightly stronger than markets had priced, pushing the AUD higher. This trend is particularly relevant when considering the AUD exchange rate August 2026.
A stronger AUD is good news for Australians sending money home — more Indian rupees, Philippine pesos, Vietnamese dong and Nepalese rupees arrive per dollar when the AUD strengthens; this is a favourable window for transfers, especially as we look towards the AUD exchange rate August 2026.
The AUD has appreciated approximately 10% against the USD over the past 12 months — from an average of USD 0.64 throughout 2025 to the current 0.70+ range; the AUD is at its highest level against the USD in three years, and projections for the AUD exchange rate August 2026 suggest continued strength.
Yesterday’s RBA decision delivered a mild but genuine surprise. Markets had fully priced a hold at 4.35% — but the hawkish tone of Governor Bullock’s press conference was sharper than most expected. Within minutes of the 2:30pm AEST announcement, the AUD began climbing.
By 4pm AEST on 11 August, the AUD/USD had reached 0.7056 — up from 0.7049 heading into the decision. The intraday high touched 0.7074 — the AUD’s weekly high. For Australians sending money home to India, the Philippines, Vietnam, Nepal or the UK, the direction of travel is the right one.
What drove the AUD higher
The AUD’s post-decision strength came from two things:
1. Bullock’s explicit hike warning
Governor Bullock confirmed at the press conference that “we will raise rates again if needed” — and that the board had actively considered a hike at this meeting before choosing to hold. This is more hawkish than the market had priced. Higher rates (or the credible prospect of them) attract foreign capital into AUD-denominated assets, increasing demand for the currency.
2. The hawkish hold being slightly stronger than expected
Markets had priced a hold — but a relatively dovish one, with some expectation that Bullock might soften the hike language. Instead, she doubled down: “near-term cut in rates does not align with board’s thinking” and “interest rates might need to stay high for longer.” The AUD responded by moving higher as cut expectations were pushed further out.
Where the AUD stands now
Confirmed from the RBA official website as at 4pm 11 August 2026:
| Currency pair | Rate |
|---|---|
| AUD/USD | 0.7056 |
| AUD/EUR | 0.6114 |
| AUD/CNY | 4.7594 |
| AUD/JPY | 112.35 |
| Trade-weighted Index | 65.5 |
The AUD/USD at 0.7056 represents a significant recovery from the 2025 average of USD 0.64 — approximately a 10% appreciation over 12 months, taking the AUD to its highest level in three years.
What a stronger AUD means for senders
When the AUD strengthens, every dollar you send overseas buys more local currency. For the communities that send the most from Australia:
AUD to INR (India): A stronger AUD means more rupees per dollar. AUD to INR transfers are fee-free with OrbitRemit — no transfer fee on any amount. Set a rate alert to act when AUD/INR hits your target.
AUD to PHP (Philippines): More pesos per dollar. AUD to PHP GCash and mobile wallet transfers are fee-free from Australia.
AUD to VND (Vietnam): More dong per dollar. AUD to VND transfers are fee-free from Australia.
AUD to NPR (Nepal): More rupees per dollar. AUD to NPR transfers are fee-free from Australia.
AUD to GBP (UK): A stronger AUD means more pounds per dollar for British migrants sending money home. AUD to GBP is fee-free.
What to watch next
The AUD’s near-term direction depends on two key data points:
Australia July CPI — Wednesday 26 August, 11:30am AEST If inflation re-accelerates in July, the case for a November RBA hike strengthens — which would push the AUD higher. If inflation continues to ease, the AUD may soften modestly as hike expectations fade further.
Federal Reserve — September 2026 Markets price one to two US rate hikes by year-end. A Fed hike strengthens the USD — which would put mild downward pressure on AUD/USD regardless of what the RBA does.
Use rate alerts: Rather than watching these data points yourself, set your target AUD exchange rate in the OrbitRemit app and get a push notification the moment it is hit.
Sending money from Australia
- AUD to INR: fee-free — no transfer fee on any amount
- AUD to PHP GCash and mobile wallets: fee-free
- AUD to GBP: fee-free
- AUD to VND, NPR, IDR: fee-free
- Flat AUD $4 on most other corridors
- Fee-free above AUD $10,000
- Rate locked at confirmation — no weekend surcharges
- Set a rate alert to act when AUD hits your target
FAQs (frequently asked questions)
Why did the AUD strengthen after the RBA decision?
The RBA held rates at 4.35% but with a more hawkish tone than markets expected. Governor Bullock confirmed the board considered a rate hike and said “will raise rates again if needed” — pushing near-term cut expectations further out and attracting foreign capital into AUD assets.
What is the current AUD/USD rate?
0.7056 as at 4pm AEST 11 August 2026, with an intraday high of 0.7074. The AUD has appreciated approximately 10% against the USD over the past 12 months.
Is now a good time to send money from Australia?
The AUD is at its highest level in three years against the USD. A stronger AUD means more foreign currency per dollar for recipients in India, the Philippines, Vietnam, Nepal and the UK. Use OrbitRemit’s rate alert to act when your specific target rate is hit.
When is the next key date for the AUD?
Australia’s July CPI is released on Wednesday 26 August at 11:30am AEST — the most important domestic data point before the next RBA decision in November.
This article is based on RBA official exchange rate data and FXStreet market coverage published 11-12 August 2026. Exchange rates fluctuate constantly — check current rates at orbitremit.com before transferring. Last updated 12 August 2026.
Sources: RBA — Exchange rates as at 4pm 11 August 2026 (rba.gov.au) | FXStreet — Australian Dollar trades near weekly high after RBA decision (11 August 2026, 9 hours ago) | AMP — Econosights: An update on the Australian dollar (2026)
