The kiwi was little changed at 84.15 US cents at 8am in Wellington from 84.13 cents at 5pm yesterday.
The New Zealand dollar slipped ahead of a key US employment report later today which analysts are tipping to be better than expected, bolstering expectations the Federal Reserve will continue to pull back its monetary stimulus this year.
The kiwi weakened to 82.43 US cents at 8am in Wellington from
82.57 cents at 5pm yesterday. The trade-weighted index dropped to 78.16 from 78.30 yesterday.
Investors are awaiting non-farm payrolls employment figures in the US today, buoyed by better than expected jobs figures in this week's ADP Research Institute report. Confirmation that employment is picking up in the world's largest economy will likely cement expectations that the Fed will continue to reduce its monetary stimulus, after cutting the monthly bond buying programme by US$10 billion this month to US$75 billion.
"Today's focus is on US non-farm payrolls with ANZ expecting an above consensus number," ANZ Bank New Zealand strategist Carrick Lucas and senior FX strategist Sam Tuck said in a note. "Should this occur, NZD/USD could remain under downside pressure."
ANZ expects the kiwi to trade between 82.10 US cents and 82.80 cents today.
