The New Zealand dollar traded in a tight range today but was sitting near six and eight month highs against all major currencies.
It closed on US66.35c from US66.25c at 5pm yesterday, having got to US66.45c during the night.
Against the Australian dollar the kiwi finished on A87.90c from A87.87c yesterday evening.
The trade weighted index was firmer at 67.06 from 66.92.
The kiwi was supported for the ussual main reason -- yield demand, ANZ Bank said.
The currency had entering a consolidation phase ahead of next week's crucial CPI data and Official Cash Rate review.
Should the Reserve Bank confirm market expectations by lifting the cash rate next Thursday and continue with extremely tough talk then the kiwi could extend as high as US68.80c, but for now that level had a low degree of probability, ANZ said.
The US dollar steadied against the yen, underpinned by US economic data that reinforced expectations the Federal Reserve would not lower interest rates soon.
Although today's data was mixed, with new building permits falling to near a five-year low, the dollar found some support from a 5.9 percent rise in new housing starts in September, traders said.
The dollar was unchanged at 118.90 yen from late US trading and the euro rose slightly to $US1.2541 from around $1.2530,
Rates:
5pm today 5pm Wednesday
NZ dlr/US dlr US66.35c US66.25c
NZ dlr/Aust dlr A87.90c A87.87c
NZ dlr/euro 0.5280 0.5280
NZ dlr/yen 78.91 78.55
NZ dlr/stg 35.52p 35.40p
NZ TWI 67.06 66.92
Australian dollar US75.51 US75.36c
Euro/US dollar 1.2541 1.2544
US dollar/yen 118.90 118.62
- NZPA
<i>Currency:</i> Dollar holds up near six month highs
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