NZ dollar falls as US data points to improving economic prospects

Against the Chinese yuan, the kiwi jumped to 4.8734 yuan from 4.8231 yuan. Photo / File

The New Zealand dollar fell from a month-high after US inflation and industrial figures showed the slow recovery in the world's biggest economy is on track, giving the Federal Reserve room to hike interest rates this year.

The kiwi declined to 71.64 US cents as at 8am in Wellington from 72.04 cents late yesterday. The trade-weighted index fell to 78.46 from 78.72.

The US consumer price index rose 0.3 per cent last month, in line with market expectations, for an annual increase of 2.1 per cent, the fastest in more than two years.

Industrial production rose 0.8 per cent in December versus expectations of a 0.6 per cent gain. Traders are awaiting a speech by Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen after San Francisco Fed president John Williams said there was a "good case" for three rate hikes this year while more may be needed if president-elect Donald Trump makes good on promises including tax cuts.

By contrast, the Reserve Bank's official cash rate track shows little intention to raise rates in the next three years.

"USD strength was the overriding feature of the night's trading," said Sharon Zollner, senior economist at ANZ Bank New Zealand.

"With two days until Donald Trump is inaugurated as US president, markets remain highly attuned to any hints of policy in the initial stages of the presidency."

Locally today, traders will get the latest reading on manufacturing with the release of the BusinessNZ manufacturing PMI, building consents for November and the ANZ Consumer Confidence Index for January.

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The kiwi was unchanged from yesterday at 58.33 British pence. It fell to 95.01 Australian cents from 95.36 cents and declined to 67.15 euro cents from 67.32 cents. The local currency traded at 81.35 yen from 81.42 yen and fell to 4.8939 yuan from 4.9391 yuan.