The New Zealand dollar eased through today's session on the back of a stronger United States dollar and ahead of economic data out later this week, a dealer said.
At 5pm, the kiwi was at US74.09 (from US74.36c at the same time on Friday), having ranged between US73.98c and US74.41c. It began today's session at US74.40c.
The Australian dollar was at US79.14c (US79.28c).
A BNZ currency spokesman said the kiwi had softened against the US dollar and the currencies of its major trading partners.
"The kiwi's movement today is symptomatic of some of the moves we've seen in the bigger currencies," the spokesman said.
"The aussie has also lost ground, so the kiwi's not on its own in that respect," he said.
The greenback's rise was on the back of market expectations the US Federal Reserve would on Wednesday morning (NZT) lift its benchmark interest rate from its current 2.5 per cent.
"That continues to undermine that interest rate differential with currencies like the euro, kiwi and aussie," the spokesman said.
On the domestic front, New Zealand's current account data is out on Wednesday, while fourth quarter gross domestic product numbers are issued on Thursday.
"Some commentators are saying those numbers might dent the very positive sentiment that exists out there in relation to the kiwi."
Meanwhile, the euro was buying US$1.3256 (US$1.3377), while the greenback was at 104.93 yen (104.66).
The kiwi was at 0.8660 Swiss francs (0.8604), A93.62c (A93.79c), 0.5590 euro (0.5559), 38.73 British pence (38.68), and 77.75 yen (77.83).
The trade-weighted index was at 71.51 (71.52), and the monetary conditions index was at plus 1132 (1132).
On the money markets, 90-day bank bill yields were at 7.05 per cent (7.06), July 2009 bonds were at 6.32 per cent (6.31), and April 2015s were at 6.20 per cent (6.17).
- NZPA
<EM>Currency: </EM>NZ dollar eases ahead of key data
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.