The New Zealand dollar weakened after the Federal Reserve minutes of its January meeting showed some officials raised the possibility of rate rises "relatively soon".
The kiwi slipped to 82.95 US cents at 8:10am in Wellington from 83.02 cents immediately before the 8am release of the minutes and 82.99 cents at 5pm yesterday. The trade-weighted index was unchanged from yesterday at 77.83.
The US dollar strengthened, pushing the kiwi lower, after the minutes which traders considered were positive on growth with a hawkish bias. The minutes showed policy makers disagreed on the likely timing of the Fed's first interest rate increase, with a few officials raising the possibility it might be appropriate to increase the federal funds rate "relatively soon".
"The market is taking it ever so slightly on the hawkish side of things so it is US dollar positive," said Sam Tuck, senior FX strategist at ANZ Bank New Zealand. "They are really focusing on a statement in the minutes that a few participants raised the possibility it might be appropriate to increase the Federal funds rate relatively soon."
Still, Tuck said that shouldn't come as a surprise as Dallas Fed president Richard Fisher and Philadelphia Fed president Charles Plosser, whose views have gained more prominence because they are voting members this year, have previously voiced concerns that the rate has been too low for a very long time.
