5.38pm
The New Zealand dollar drifted lower against its United States counterpart today and at market's close was lingering just below the key US70c mark, a broker said.
At 5pm, the kiwi was at US69.75c (from US69.58c at the same time yesterday), having today ranged between US69.73c and US70.06c.
It began today's local session at US69.96c.
BNZ currency strategist Sue Trinh said the market was consolidating, and the kiwi had been dragged lower by the Australian dollar.
"There's a bit of profit taking," Ms Trinh told NZPA today.
"The aussie's had a pretty good run over the last couple of sessions and a few punters are taking their money off the table," she said.
Trade on the kiwi-aussie cross had caused the kiwi to slip lower against the greenback, she said.
The Reserve Bank of Australia's governor, Ian Macfarlane, is due to speak on Australia's monetary policy and financial stability at 8pm NZT, which Ms Trinh said could have some bearing on the kiwi-aussie cross.
Meanwhile, the aussie was fetching US76.96c (US76.89c), the greenback was at 105.44 yen (105.38 yen) and the euro was at US$1.2930 (US$1.2966).
Overnight, European Union monetary affairs commissioner Joaquin Almunia voiced his disapproval over the euro's recent uptrend, but Ms Trinh said it appeared the prospect of actual intervention from the Europeans was limited.
On the crosses the kiwi was buying A90.64c (A90.49c), 0.5395 euro (0.5367) 37.77 British pence (37.47), 73.54 yen (73.33) and 0.8236 Swiss francs (0.8154).
The trade-weighted index was at 68.30 (68.06) and the monetary conditions index was at plus 872 (853).
On the money market, 90-day bank bill yields were on 6.76 per cent (6.75).
February 2006 bond yields were unchanged on 6.24 per cent, July 2009s were at 6.01 per cent (6.02), and April 2013s were at 6.08 per cent (6.09).
- NZPA
<i>Currency:</i> NZ dollar is pulled lower by profit taking in Australian dollar
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