The Australian dollar slumped to the weakest level in six years as a gauge of Chinese manufacturing unexpectedly worsened and Standard & Poor’s said it might lower Australia’s credit rating if the budget doesn’t improve. The Aussie fell against all its 31 major counterparts as Caixin Media and Markit Economics said their flash manufacturing index for China dropped to the lowest in 15 months. China is Australia’s major trading partner. ABN Amro Bank NV, the most accurate Aussie forecaster in Bloomberg Rankings last quarter, lowered its 2015 and 2016 year-end estimates for the currency. China’s numbers “were very ... (full story)