The New Zealand dollar declined as the US dollar strengthened after minutes to the Federal Reserve's last meeting were more upbeat than expected about the world's largest economy.
The kiwi fell to 83.67 US cents at 8am in Wellington, from 83.88 cents at 5pm yesterday. The trade-weighted index edged lower to 78.91 from 78.93 yesterday.
The US dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies, rose to its highest in almost a year after minutes from the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee showed policymakers were less concerned about low inflation and more optimistic about a pickup in the labour market, suggesting they may hasten the removal of monetary policy stimulus. Fed officials have previously indicated interest rates would increase some time next year, after holding the rate near zero since December 2008.
"Kiwi is lower as are all major currencies against the US dollar," said Imre Speizer, senior market strategist at Westpac Banking Corp. in New Zealand. "The FOMC minutes were a bit more hawkish than expected, they saw an improving labour market and improving economic growth and expected it to continue going forward so US interest rates rose, the US dollar rose, and everything fell against it."
The New Zealand dollar will probably be capped at 84.15 US cents and continue to fall in the coming days towards 82 cents, Speizer said.
