🐂 Not all bull runs are created equal. November’s AI picks include 5 stocks up +20% eachUnlock Stocks

Australia dollar regains ground, NZ dollar a touch lower

Published 29/03/2017, 04:00 pm
© Reuters.  Australia dollar regains ground, NZ dollar a touch lower
AUD/USD
-
NZD/USD
-
AUD/JPY
-
NZD/JPY
-
AU2YT=RR
-

By Cecile Lefort

SYDNEY, March 29 (Reuters) - The Australian dollar strengthened on Wednesday, coming off a two-week low hit in the previous session, as renewed optimism about the health of the global economy gave a boost to risk appetite and commodity prices.

The Australian dollar AUD=D4 rose to $0.7648, away from a trough of $0.7587 touched on Tuesday when markets doubted U.S. President Donald Trump could quickly implement his pro-growth plans.

"Risk appetite is resilient enough to avoid a meltdown," said Sean Callow, a senior strategist at Westpac, seeing the Aussie between 75 cents and 77 cents.

The Aussie remained within sight of a four-month peak of $0.7750 touched last week. Resistance was found around $0.7655 with support at around $0.7590.

Helping the Aussie was solid U.S. data backing expectations for more interest rate hikes this year and a bounce in some commodity prices on positive economic news from China.

Broad selling in the safe-haven yen underpinned the Aussie which powered up to 85 yen AUDJPY=R . It touched 83.76 yen on Tuesday, the lowest seen this year.

The Aussie received a fillip from sterling weakness GBPAUD= as the British government formally started its exit from the European Union.

Across the Tasman sea, the New Zealand dollar NZD=D4 edged lower to $0.7005, from a peak of $0.7048 touched on Tuesday. It met heavy resistance around $0.7020.

On the downside, a break under $0.6994 would open a test to $0.6975.

Like its Aussie cousin, it regained some ground against the yen at 77.86 yen NZDJPY=R , from a four-month low of 77.42 touched on Tuesday.

Bonds lost some of their shine on improving risk sentiment, with New Zealand government bonds 0#NZTSY= yields as much as four basis points higher at the long end of the curve.

Australian government bond futures also retreated from multi-week highs, with the three-year bond contract YTTc1 off 3 ticks at 98.030. The 10-year contract YTCc1 also eased 3 ticks to 97.2300, while the 20-year contract YXXc1 fell 3.5 ticks to 96.6850.

The difference between Australian and U.S. 2-year government yields AU2YT=RR dropped to 45 basis points, the lowest in a decade. (Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.