WELLINGTON, June 14 (Reuters) - The New Zealand and
Australian dollars opened near multi-week highs on Monday, as
positive U.S. consumer confidence data gave investors confidence
that Europe's debt problems would not hinder global growth.
* The NZ dollar opens close to a one-month high of $0.6914, compared with about $0.6850 in late local trade on Friday, after steadily gaining in offshore trade.
* Sentiment was boosted by U.S. consumer confidence coming in above expectations, offsetting a slide in retail sales, sending the U.S. dollar higher.
* Equities in the U.S. and Europe gained along with commodity prices, while the CBOE Volatility Index, known as Wall St's fear gauge, fell to a one-month low.
* Kiwi also seen enjoying steady support after the Reserve Bank of NZ raised rates on Thursday, and flagged further rises to come as the economic recovery becomes broad-based.
* The Australian dollar sitting at about $0.8539, a two-week high, after it had ranged as low as $0.8429 in Friday's offshore trade. Resistance for the Aussie seen at $0.8550.
* Trade in the Aussie will be thinned with Australian markets closed on Monday for the Queens Birthday holiday.
* The Aussie/kiwi cross a touch softer at NZ$1.2364, reflecting market expectations for a steady stream of NZ rate rises over the next 12 months compared with Australia, which has already had six rate rises in the past eight months.
* NZ has April retail sales data later on Monday, with a Reuters poll picking a flat reading.. Other data this week includes May housing data on Tuesday, and consumer confidence on Wednesday.
* Australia has minutes of the RBA's June minutes due on Tuesday, along with a speech by Deputy Governor Ric Battellino.
* NZ debt mixed, while Australian bond futures gained, with three-year futures up 0.025 points to
95.185, and 10
year futures 0.02 points higher at 94.625.
(Reporting by Adrian Bathgate)
((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 NZ dollar opens close to a one-month high of $0.6914, compared with about $0.6850 in late local trade on Friday, after steadily gaining in offshore trade.
* Sentiment was boosted by U.S. consumer confidence coming in above expectations, offsetting a slide in retail sales, sending the U.S. dollar higher.
* Equities in the U.S. and Europe gained along with commodity prices, while the CBOE Volatility Index, known as Wall St's fear gauge, fell to a one-month low.
* Kiwi also seen enjoying steady support after the Reserve Bank of NZ raised rates on Thursday, and flagged further rises to come as the economic recovery becomes broad-based.
* The Australian dollar sitting at about $0.8539, a two-week high, after it had ranged as low as $0.8429 in Friday's offshore trade. Resistance for the Aussie seen at $0.8550.
* Trade in the Aussie will be thinned with Australian markets closed on Monday for the Queens Birthday holiday.
* The Aussie/kiwi cross a touch softer at NZ$1.2364, reflecting market expectations for a steady stream of NZ rate rises over the next 12 months compared with Australia, which has already had six rate rises in the past eight months.
* NZ has April retail sales data later on Monday, with a Reuters poll picking a flat reading.. Other data this week includes May housing data on Tuesday, and consumer confidence on Wednesday.
* Australia has minutes of the RBA's June minutes due on Tuesday, along with a speech by Deputy Governor Ric Battellino.
* NZ debt mixed, while Australian bond futures gained, with three-year futures up 0.025 points to
95.185, and 10
year futures 0.02 points higher at 94.625.
(Reporting by Adrian Bathgate)
((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.