Forex - NZ dollar dips after current account data, regional focus on Fed
Published Sep 16, 2014 07:17PM ET
New Zealand dollar dips in Asia
Investing.com - The New Zealand dollar dipped marginally Wednesday after the current account deficit shrank from 2.7% of GDP to 2.5% for the year to June 2014, with the broader focus on the Federal Reserve.
A NZ$1.1-billion deficit was recorded for the latest quarter, following a March quarter surplus of NZ$1.5 billion.
NZD/USD traded at 0.8194, down 0.06%. Ahead of a survey, AUD/USD traded at 0.9084, down 0.12%, while USD/JPY changed hands at 107.16, up 0.04%.
In Sydney at (0030 GMT), there's Australia's August Westpac-MI leading index due, which has indicated below trend since February.
Overnight, the dollar edged lower against most major currencies in afternoon trading as investors backtracked on previous bets the Federal Reserve's monetary policy statement due out Wednesday could contain hawkish language.
The Federal Reserve will announce its latest statement on monetary policy this Wednesday, and expectations for the U.S. central bank to cut its monthly bond-buying program to $15 billion from $25 billion kept the greenback firm.
Investors were also hoping to see a timetable as to when U.S. interest rates may rise, though by afternoon trading, Wall Street Journal reporter Jon Hilsenrath said in a webcast that the Fed will say rates will remain low for a "considerable time," a phrase the bank often uses, and instead focus more on wording the closing of its bond-buying program.
Hilsenrath's opinion found followers, as investors took up positions betting that the Fed will try avoid overwhelming markets by discussing the end of stimulus programs alongside a change in forward guidance, leaving the latter for a future policy meeting.
Elsewhere on Tuesday, official data showed that U.S. producer price inflation was flat last month, compared to expectations for a 0.1% rise after a 0.1% gain in July.
Core PPI, which excludes food, energy, and trade rose 0.1% in August, in line with expectations, after an increase of 0.2% in July.
The US Dollar Index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, was flat at 84.23.
On Wednesday, markets will move on the Federal Reserve's statement on monetary policy followed by Fed Chair Janet Yellen's press conference.
Elsewhere, the U.S. is to produce data on consumer prices, while the euro zone is to release revised data on consumer price inflation.
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Written By: Investing.com
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