The New Zealand dollar limped through today's session after taking a heavy blow from a resurgent United States dollar last night.
At 5pm the kiwi was at US63.09c, from US63.59c at the same time yesterday. It ranged between US62.76c and US63.12c today.
The Australian dollar was at US70.18c (from US71.26c at 5pm yesterday).
An ANZ Bank broker said the kiwi struggled through today's session, making only minor gains on its opening level.
"I think we've seen some solid export demand over the day, which has pushed the kiwi off its lows this morning," the broker told NZPA.
The market was looking ahead to tomorrow's monetary policy statement by Reserve Bank governor Alan Bollard, he said.
He expected Dr Bollard to lift the official cash rate by 25 basis points to 6.0 per cent.
"Most people will be looking at Dr Bollard's comments to see what his next move will be," the broker said.
Hawkish comments could see the kiwi move higher.
Better than expected US consumer confidence data released last night caused the kiwi to shed some 70 basis points.
More key US economic data was due out later this week and BNZ currency strategist Sue Trinh said the kiwi's risk was to the downside.
"The onus right now is on the US dollar and the dynamics of it," she told NZPA today.
Meanwhile, the euro was at US$1.2073 (US$1.2140), while the greenback was at 111.09 yen (109.90).
On the crosses, the kiwi was buying A89.89c (A89.77c), 34.57 British pence (34.67), 0.5226 euro (0.5262), 70.06 yen (70.18), and 0.8039 Swiss francs (0.8075).
The monetary conditions index was at plus 538 (568), while the trade-weighted index was at 64.48 (64.86).
On the money and debt markets, 90-day bank bill yields were at 6.30 per cent (6.31), February 2006 bonds were at 6.03 per cent (6.01), July 2009s were at 6.13 per cent (6.06), and April 2013s were at 6.24 per cent (6.15).
- NZPA
<i>Currency:</i> Kiwi limps through after taking hit from greenback
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