WELLINGTON, April 19 (Reuters) - The New Zealand and Australian dollars were sitting near one-week lows on Monday as investors turned risk averse and sought safety after leading investment bank Goldman Sachs was charged with fraud.
* The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charges Goldman Sachs with fraud over the structuring and marketing of a debt product, sending Wall Street more than 1 percent lower. For more see The action turns investors against risky investments such as stocks and high yield currencies and pumps demand for the perceived safety of the U.S. dollar and Japanese yen.
* The Australian dollar starts the week around 1 percent lower at $0.9213 as the U.S. dollar gains on safety bid. It had peaked around $0.9334 shortly after Friday's local close but fell to a low of $0.9231, before settling around $0.9250.
* The kiwi fares comparatively better, starting around $0.7070 from Friday's late local level of $0.7102.
* Heightened risk aversion expected to see both pressured, with the Aussie supported around $0.9200, while kiwi will settle at $0.7050.
* Both currencies also was softer against the yen, which also benefits from the demand for safety. NZ dollar-yen at around 64.90 from Friday's close of 65.31, Aussie slips to 84.64 from 85.24.
* NZ data calendar includes first quarter consumer inflation data on Tuesday, with expectations of a rise of 0.6 percent on the previous quarter. That would take the annual rate to 2.2 percent, still comfortably within the central bank's target band. See
* Other NZ data will include up-to-date snapshots of domestic demand will be available in ANZ-Roy Morgan's consumer confidence survey, migration, and credit card sales.
* Australia sees Reserve Bank of Australia minutes of the April rate meeting on Tuesday, with trade numbers and vehicle sales also due this week. RBA Governor Glenn Stevens to give speech on Friday.
* Three-year Australian futures up 0.05 points to 94.66, and 10-year futures added 0.035 points to 94.20.
* NZ debt opens firmer on safety bid with yields a tick or two lower along the curve. ((Australia/New Zealand bureaux; +61 2 9373 1800/+64 4 471 4234)) Keywords: MARKETS AUSTRALIA NEWZEALAND FOREX/BONDS (If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
* The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charges Goldman Sachs with fraud over the structuring and marketing of a debt product, sending Wall Street more than 1 percent lower. For more see The action turns investors against risky investments such as stocks and high yield currencies and pumps demand for the perceived safety of the U.S. dollar and Japanese yen.
* The Australian dollar starts the week around 1 percent lower at $0.9213 as the U.S. dollar gains on safety bid. It had peaked around $0.9334 shortly after Friday's local close but fell to a low of $0.9231, before settling around $0.9250.
* The kiwi fares comparatively better, starting around $0.7070 from Friday's late local level of $0.7102.
* Heightened risk aversion expected to see both pressured, with the Aussie supported around $0.9200, while kiwi will settle at $0.7050.
* Both currencies also was softer against the yen, which also benefits from the demand for safety. NZ dollar-yen at around 64.90 from Friday's close of 65.31, Aussie slips to 84.64 from 85.24.
* NZ data calendar includes first quarter consumer inflation data on Tuesday, with expectations of a rise of 0.6 percent on the previous quarter. That would take the annual rate to 2.2 percent, still comfortably within the central bank's target band. See
* Other NZ data will include up-to-date snapshots of domestic demand will be available in ANZ-Roy Morgan's consumer confidence survey, migration, and credit card sales.
* Australia sees Reserve Bank of Australia minutes of the April rate meeting on Tuesday, with trade numbers and vehicle sales also due this week. RBA Governor Glenn Stevens to give speech on Friday.
* Three-year Australian futures up 0.05 points to 94.66, and 10-year futures added 0.035 points to 94.20.
* NZ debt opens firmer on safety bid with yields a tick or two lower along the curve. ((Australia/New Zealand bureaux; +61 2 9373 1800/+64 4 471 4234)) Keywords: MARKETS AUSTRALIA NEWZEALAND FOREX/BONDS (If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.