Dollar gains after US GDP news

The New Zealand dollar may trade in a range of 85 US cents and 86 cents today. Photo / File

The New Zealand dollar gained after a report showed the US economy grew less than previously estimated in the first quarter, easing speculation the Federal Reserve will start slowing monetary stimulus any time soon.

The kiwi rose to 77.91 US cents from 77.35 cents at 5pm in Wellington yesterday. The trade-weighted index increased to 73.60 from 72.98 yesterday.

The local currency has shed about 4 per cent since Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke said last week that he will start pulling back the central bank's US$85 billion a month bond buying this year should economic data continue to improve. Yesterday's weaker GDP report comes after upbeat reports the previous day on durable goods orders, sales of new homes, home prices and consumer confidence.

"With the stronger US data and no continued US dollar buying, the market was exhausted and looking for a reason to pare back their US dollar longs and they got it with a weaker GDP," said Sam Tuck, senior manager FX at ANZ New Zealand. "A lot of the forward looking tapering factors have already been accommodated into the price so we are probably likely to get more sideways consolidation with lots of volatility."

US gross domestic product expanded at a revised 1.8 per cent annual pace in the first quarter, down from a revised 2.4 per cent, according to Commerce Department figures. That lags New Zealand growth of 2.5 per cent.

"The New Zealand economy is still seen as a very reasonable place to invest in the short term," Tuck said.

The kiwi may move above 80 US cents on weaker US economic data and test 77 US cents on stronger data, Tuck said. "For the remainder of the next couple of days there is a slight bias higher," he said.

In New Zealand today, Reserve Bank deputy governor Grant Spencer is likely to warn about housing market risks in a speech at 11am, which could impact interest rates and the currency, Tuck said.

The trade balance for May is scheduled for release at 10:45am and is expected to show a surplus of $400 million in the month, for an annual deficit of $520 million, according to a Reuters survey. The ANZ Business Outlook survey for June will be published at 1pm.

The kiwi rose to 84 Australian cents from 83.48 cents yesterday and increased to 76.13 yen from 75.57 yen. The local currency jumped to 59.86 euro cents from 59.18 cents and edged up to 50.88 British pence from 50.15 pence.