Results of Operations
During the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, the Trust's net comprehensive income (loss) was, in part, impacted by market volatility resulting from global tariff gyrations and mounting US recession concerns for 2025, and expectations around the Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) easing and heightened geopolitical concerns for 2024, which are considered to be unusual or infrequent events. Although the full and direct impact of global tariffs, US recession concerns, Fed easing expectations and rising geopolitical tensions, on the Trust's net comprehensive income (loss) during the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, cannot be known, it is believed that they have each independently impacted the Closing Spot Rate, the interest rate paid by the Depository, and the global economy and markets generally, including the number of Shares created and redeemed by the Trust.
The Australian Dollar (AUD/USD) ended the first quarter of 2025 close to flat despite significant US dollar (USD) weakness. This was partially due to global tariff uncertainty reducing risk appetite, as the AUD is generally seen as a riskier currency, but also the intensifying trade war between US and China. China is Australia’s largest export partner, so any headwinds to the Chinese economy, will likely also have negative cascading effects. The downturn in commodities also exerted downward pressure since Australia has an export-oriented economy.
The Australian Dollar (AUD/USD) ended the first quarter of 2024 lower with price action largely driven by moves in the USD, and by risk-off moves due to escalated geopolitical tensions – the Australian Dollar is generally considered a riskier currency while the USD is traditionally seen as a safe haven. The Federal Reserve's higher-for-longer rhetoric and stickier-than-expected US inflation pushed out expectations for US rate cuts and higher rates generally provide support for the country’s currency. US economic resilience also boosted demand for the USD. Specific to the Australian Dollar, the sluggish recovery in China served as a headwind given the country is Australia’s largest export partner.
Additionally, the interest rate paid by the Depository has generally trended downward over the past year with the current interest rate of 1.72%, as set forth in the FXA Rate Chart above. As long as the interest income, if any, exceed the Sponsor's fee and the interest expense on currency deposits, the Trust will incur a net comprehensive income.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Except as described above with respect to fluctuations in the Australian Dollar/USD exchange rate and changes in the nominal annual interest rate paid by the Depository on Australian Dollars held by the Trust, the Trust is not subject to market risk. The Trust does not hold securities and does not invest in derivative instruments.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
Under the supervision and with the participation of the management of the Sponsor, including Brian Hartigan, its Principal Executive Officer, and Kelli Gallegos, its Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, Investment Pools, the Trust carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report, and, based upon that evaluation, Brian Hartigan, the Principal Executive Officer of the Sponsor, and Kelli Gallegos, the Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, Investment Pools, of the Sponsor, concluded that the Trust's disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that information the Trust is required to disclose in the reports that it files or submits with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms, and to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Trust in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management of the Sponsor, including its Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There has been no change in internal control over financial reporting (as defined in the Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that occurred during the Trust’s quarter ended March 31, 2025 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Trust's internal control over financial reporting.