The New Zealand dollar took all day to grind up 11 points in a "desperately quiet" market.
At 5pm the kiwi traded at 43.66USc, from 43.52c yesterday morning, while the aussie traded at 53.75USc from 53.60c about 8am.
"It was desperately quiet, there was such little interest around it was scary," one dealer said.
"I would say if anything the kiwi has just firmed a touch on the day, we slowly just ground a bit higher ... [but] some of the banks haven't traded for hours and hours.
"It was quieter than Christmas today," he said.
Tokyo markets were closed for National Foundation Day which took out a large chunk of potential trade, exacerbating normal Monday sleepiness on the New Zealand currency market.
"The interest rate market's been a little bit busier, they followed overnight moves," the dealer said.
"They firmed so yields have come off a little bit - those sorts of things have no impact on our [currency] markets, all we look for is some flows coming through and there weren't any at all."
During a quiet weekend, the kiwi traded between 43.26/86c, while the aussie was between 53.20/84c.
The currency market was completely untouched by major developments in the sharemarket, as investors awaited the effective takeover of winemaker Montana by brewer Lion Nathan from under the nose of British liquor giant Allied Domecq.
At 5pm the euro was at 92.80USc, up from 92.38c in the morning.
On the crosses, the kiwi was at 81.21Ac (81.11c at Friday's close).
- NZPA
<i>Currency:</i> Tokyo break dents dollar trading
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.