NZ dollar advances against weak US dollar ahead of Fed, RBNZ

NZ dollar advances against weaker US dollar ahead of Fed, RBNZ

By Tina Morrison

April 28 (BusinessDesk) - The New Zealand dollar advanced against a weaker US dollar as traders push out expectations for a US interest rate hike, with both the US Federal Reserve and New Zealand's Reserve Bank scheduled to decide on interest rates on Thursday.

The kiwi rose to 76.39 US cents at 8am in Wellington, from 76.12 cents at 5pm yesterday. The trade-weighted index was at 79.24 from 78.75 at 5pm on Friday. Markets in New Zealand were closed yesterday for the Anzac public holiday.

The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies, has declined 2.8 percent the past 10 days as softer US economic data pushed out expectations for the first Fed rate hike from June to September. With the Fed expected to keep interest rates near zero and with no scheduled press conference or updated economic forecasts, traders will be looking to the tone of the Fed's statement, released 6am Thursday New Zealand time, for further guidance. In New Zealand, rates are also expected to remain on hold at 3.5 percent when the RBNZ publishes its statement at 9am on Thursday.

"(The) US dollar remained on the back foot following further softness in US dataflow," ANZ Bank New Zealand senior economist Philip Borkin and senior FX strategist Sam Tuck said in a note. "Markets continue to liquidate long US dollar positions in the lead up to the FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee meeting), as markets price a dovish tilt from the FOMC, should it occur. (The) New Zealand dollar squeezed higher on US dollar selling."

The kiwi will likely trade between 75.80 US cents and 76.80 cents today, ANZ said.

The New Zealand dollar edged lower to 97.27 Australian cents from 97.35 cents yesterday. Reserve Bank of Australia governor Glenn Stevens is scheduled to speak today at the Australian Financial Review Banking and Wealth Summit in Sydney.

The local currency was little changed at 70.13 euro cents from 70.11 cents yesterday. The euro rose against the greenback after Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras appointed deputy foreign minister Euclid Tsakalotos as coordinator of the country's bailout negotiating team, sidelining Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis, who was reportedly unpopular with the creditor countries.

The kiwi rose to 90.97 yen from 90.62 yen yesterday and was little changed at 50.16 British pence from 50.14 pence.

(BusinessDesk)

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