KEY POINTS:
The New Zealand dollar opened firmer in local trading today against the US dollar, amid renewed concerns about the US economy and heightened tensions in the Middle East.
The kiwi was buying US57.97c at 8am, compared with US57.63c at 5pm yesterday.
The NZ dollar also gained other trading partner currencies, to A84.03c at 8am from A83.91c at 5pm, 52.24 yen (from 52.20), 40.06 pence (from 39.21p) and 0.4125 euros (from 0.4071).
The trade weighted index rose to 56.43 from 56.02.
Reuters reported that investors have generally fled to the greenback in periods of political uncertainty, although that has changed in recent months as the US recession has deepened and government bond yields have sunk to record lows.
- NZPA
