WELLINGTON, Oct 18 (Reuters) - The Australian dollar pulled
back from near parity against the U.S. currency on Monday after a
vicious bout of short-covering lifted the U.S. dollar and
Treasury yields while denting commodities.
* Australian dollar around $0.9930, after very briefly surging above parity to $1.0004 for the first time since it was floated in 1983.
* The Aussie looks set for some consolidation, after recent sharp gains and after failing to stay above parity. Supports seen around $0.9850 and resistance around parity level.
* The Aussie had been rising every week since the week of August 22, its longest winning streak since June 2009, on a global selldown in U.S. dollars on fears of more monetary easing. It is up 11 percent since the start of the year, the second top-performer among major currencies after the yen.
* NZ dollar around late Friday level at $0.7565, after ranging $0.7535/$0.7615 offshore. Support seen from $0.7550 with resistance at $0.7645, a two-year high hit last week.
* The Antipodeans saw brief boosts after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said low inflation and high unemployment made a case for more easing.
* But there was no details on size and scope, keeping the markets edgy and triggering some profit taking in the euro against the greenback.
* Risk sentiment mixed, with Wall Street up 0.2 percent while the CRB index down 1.3 percent. Gold snapped a two-day record-setting rally.
* Longer-dated U.S. Treasuries fell and pushed portions of the curve to record steep levels after Bernanke's comment raised expectations the Fed would try to create inflation.
* Aussie/kiwi around NZ$1.3097, after hitting a two-week high of NZ$1.3145 offshore. Aussie also firm around 0.7096 euro and around 80.76 yen.
* Kiwi off low, sitting around 61.51 yen, while steady around 0.5405 euro, keeping the trade-weighted index flat.
* Focus on NZ inflation data on Monday, with markets expecting 1.0 pct for Q3 and 1.5 pct year/year. Motor vehicle sales data for September due in Australia.
* NZ government bonds weaker, with yields up one basis point across the curve.
* Australian bond futures were also softer, with three-year futures indicated off 0.05 points at 95.06 and the
10
year contract down 0.065 points at 94.84.
((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.
* Australian dollar around $0.9930, after very briefly surging above parity to $1.0004 for the first time since it was floated in 1983.
* The Aussie looks set for some consolidation, after recent sharp gains and after failing to stay above parity. Supports seen around $0.9850 and resistance around parity level.
* The Aussie had been rising every week since the week of August 22, its longest winning streak since June 2009, on a global selldown in U.S. dollars on fears of more monetary easing. It is up 11 percent since the start of the year, the second top-performer among major currencies after the yen.
* NZ dollar around late Friday level at $0.7565, after ranging $0.7535/$0.7615 offshore. Support seen from $0.7550 with resistance at $0.7645, a two-year high hit last week.
* The Antipodeans saw brief boosts after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said low inflation and high unemployment made a case for more easing.
* But there was no details on size and scope, keeping the markets edgy and triggering some profit taking in the euro against the greenback.
* Risk sentiment mixed, with Wall Street up 0.2 percent while the CRB index down 1.3 percent. Gold snapped a two-day record-setting rally.
* Longer-dated U.S. Treasuries fell and pushed portions of the curve to record steep levels after Bernanke's comment raised expectations the Fed would try to create inflation.
* Aussie/kiwi around NZ$1.3097, after hitting a two-week high of NZ$1.3145 offshore. Aussie also firm around 0.7096 euro and around 80.76 yen.
* Kiwi off low, sitting around 61.51 yen, while steady around 0.5405 euro, keeping the trade-weighted index flat.
* Focus on NZ inflation data on Monday, with markets expecting 1.0 pct for Q3 and 1.5 pct year/year. Motor vehicle sales data for September due in Australia.
* NZ government bonds weaker, with yields up one basis point across the curve.
* Australian bond futures were also softer, with three-year futures indicated off 0.05 points at 95.06 and the
10
year contract down 0.065 points at 94.84.
((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.