The New Zealand dollar gained after better-than-expected US employment and consumer confidence figures stoked investor appetite for growth-linked currencies such as the kiwi.
The kiwi dollar rose to 77.36 US cents just before 8am, from 76.78 cents at 5pm yesterday and reached an overnight high of 77.49 cents. The kiwi dollar rose to 60.43 yen from 59.9 yen yesterday, hitting an overnight high of 60.53 yen.
The US, the world's largest economy, released better-than-expected labour market data underpinning hopes the pace of recovery is gaining momentum. Consumer confidence strengthened more than expected in December to a six-month-high, while jobless claims dropped to their lowest level in 3 1/2 years last week.
"Better US numbers keep piling on and the New Zealand dollar is out performing as US stocks grind higher," said Richard Franulovich, senior currency strategist at Westpac Bank in New York. "It's good news for the kiwi."
Helping stoke optimism for a recovery in global growth, UK gross domestic product for the third quarter grew 0.6 per cent, up from an initial estimate of 0.5 per cent.
