The Australian dollar climbed above $0.653 on Wednesday, marking its fourth straight session of gains, supported by a weaker US dollar and a hawkish outlook on Reserve Bank of Australia policy.

The greenback ran into some profit-taking in recent sessions following a strong rally, while investors awaited news on US President-elect Donald Trump's pick for Treasury Secretary. On the domestic front, minutes from the RBA's November policy meeting indicated that the central bank intends to maintain a restrictive monetary policy until it is confident that inflation is sustainably moving toward its target, while remaining vigilant about upside risks to inflation. However, the RBA stressed that it is not ruling anything in or out regarding future policy adjustments.

Currently, markets are pricing in a 37% chance of an RBA rate cut in February, and a 58% probability by April. A 25 basis point reduction to the 4.35% cash rate is not fully priced in until May.

Source: Trading economics