NZ dollar falls as stronger-than-expected US data lifts greenback
The local currency fell to 70.79USc as at 8am in Wellington.
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The New Zealand dollar fell as stronger-than-expected US retail sales and manufacturing data helped extend the greenback's rally, while gains in dairy prices overnight weren't enough to offset offshore influences on the kiwi.
The local currency fell to 70.79USc as at 8am in Wellington from 71.11USc late yesterday. The trade-weighted index fell to 77.27 from 77.47.
US retail sales rose 0.8% in October, the Commerce Department said, faster than the 0.6% pace expected by economists, while the Empire manufacturing index rose against expectations of a decline. The figures added to the market's conviction that the US Federal Reserve will hike interest rates next month. In a night of mixed influences on the kiwi, dairy product prices rose at the GlobalDairyTrade auction, gaining for the seventh time in eight auctions, amid supply decreases, while crude oil led gains in other commodity prices and equity markets gained in Europe and the US.
"Strong retail sales add to other evidence that the US economy is in good health," advisers at Bancorp Treasury Services said in a report. "These positives justify the Fed withdrawing its easy monetary policy stance."
The GDT price index increased 4.5% to $US3519 at the dairy auction overnight, while whole milk powder rose 3.2% to $US3423 a tonne.
The gain in whole milk powder "was a little disappointing but let's not forget it jumped 20% last time," OMF's Nigel Brunel said.
The kiwi dollar fell to 93.87Ac from 94.05Ac late yesterday and rose to ¥77.34 from ¥76.88. It fell to 4.8586 yuan from 4.8769 yuan, declined to 56.76 British pence from 56.91 pence and traded at 66.06 euro cents from 66.12 euro cents.
New Zealand's two-year swaps rose four basis points to 2.26% while the 10-year swap rate was unchanged at 3.24%.
(BusinessDesk)
Jonathan Underhill
Wed, 16 Nov 2016
Wed, 16 Nov 2016
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NZ dollar falls as stronger-than-expected US data lifts greenback
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