Improving global growth and synchronised interest rate hikes could drive the Australian dollar as high as 90 US cents next year, an economist says. After a lacklustre 2017 for the local currency, a looming shift in global monetary policy is likely to support gains for the Aussie dollar, HSBC chief economist Australia and New Zealand Paul Bloxham said. 'Looking into 2018, we see the Australia dollar climbing, as we expect it to get support from a lift in global growth, which is expected to support commodity prices, and we expect the RBA to lift the cash rate in 2018,' Mr Bloxham said. Low financial market volatility ... (full story)