KEY POINTS:
Dire consumer confidence data failed to knock the New Zealand dollar down against the greenback, although it weakened against the aussie today.
Markets are on hold for the US Federal Reserve's decision on interest rates tomorrow morning NZ time.
At 4.30pm, the kiwi was buying US75.74c from US75.61c at 4.30pm yesterday, while against the aussie, it fell to A79.17c, from A79.43c at 4.30pm yesterday.
Consumer confidence, already at a decade low in the March quarter, plunged further in the June quarter to its lowest since the recession of 1991, according to the Westpac McDermott Miller quarterly survey.
Westpac economist Donna Purdue called this quarter's nose-dive "jaw dropping" but traders said it was not a surprise.
Tomorrow, Statistics NZ will released March quarter current account data, with the deficit picked to be $1.7 billion in the quarter and $13.2 billion for the year.
More focus will be on Friday's GDP data which economists expect to show contracted by 0.3 per cent in the first quarter and a number below that figure would see the kiwi sold.
However, far outscoring those in importance, is the Fed's decision. It is most likely to keep interest rates unchanged at 2 per cent, following a dip in US consumer confidence to a 16-year low.
Investors are focusing on the Fed's post-meeting statement and whether the central bank will signal more concern about inflation than downside risks to the US economy.
"Looking at yesterday's numbers, you get the sense that they cannot just talk about inflation," said one trader.
"If that turns out to be the case, the dollar will probably be sold, at least initially."
The NZ dollar trade weighted index closed on 67.82 from 67.86 at the same time yesterday.
Reuters currency rates:
NZ dlr/US dlr US75.74c US75.61c
NZ dlr/Aust dlr A79.17c A79.43c
NZ dlr/euro 0.4866 0.4872
NZ dlr/yen 81.67 81.73
NZ dlr/stg 38.43p 38.48p
NZ TWI 67.82 67.86
Australian dollar US95.68c US95.18c
Euro/US dollar 1.5570 1.5513
US dollar/yen 107.83 108.13
- NZPA
