The greenback fell out of favour late in the Asian trading session as investors prepare for the US consumer prices index on Wednesday for a steer on whether Federal Reserve will raise interest rates next month. The Australian dollar outperformed the kiwi, having largely ignored an upbeat NAB business confidence survey that underscored growing economic momentum across the Tasman.
"Interest rate markets have slightly more of a chance of the Reserve Bank of Australia hiking than the RBNZ over the course of 2018," said Michael Johnston, senior trader at HiFX. "The kiwi/Aussie's been up in the high 92s, 93s and that's rarefied air in this day and age."
Johnston said the kiwi may gain a little against the greenback in the run-up to Wednesday's US CPI release, but if inflation is strong, then the US dollar "will make further gains".
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand's survey of inflation expectations tomorrow will be closely watched tomorrow for any signs inflationary pressures may be emerging.
New Zealand's two-year swap rate rose 2 basis points to 2.15 per cent, while 10-year swaps rose 2 points to 3.30 per cent.
The kiwi dollar was almost unchanged at 52.46 British pence from 52.45 pence late yesterday and traded at 59.06 euro cents form 59.15 cents. It rose to 4.9532 Chinese yuan from 4.5810 yuan yesterday and fell to 78.82 yen from 79.02 yen.
The trade-weighted index was at 74.62 from 74.72.
