WELLINGTON/SYDNEY, March 28 (Reuters) - The Australian dollar sat just below its highest level in 29 years in early trade on Monday, as riskier assets rallied on firmer stock markets and more upbeat views of the U.S. economy.
* The Australian dollar at $1.0258, just below a peak of $1.0294 struck in late offshore trade on Friday.
* Aussie propelled to its high on a renewed bout of risk appetite, as well as strong demand for the currency from cross-border merger activity.
* Support for the Aussie seen from $1.0203, with resistance at the $1.0300 handle and then $1.0400.
* The New Zealand dollar at $0.7538, after following in its Aussie cousin's slipstream to a one-month high of $0.7577 high in Friday's offshore trade.
* The kiwi is supported at $0.7457, the March 11 high, with resistance at $0.7607 ahead of its Feb 22 high of $0.7640.
* The stronger antipodean pair defying a bounce in the U.S. dollar, after Federal Reserve officials said there was no need to extend its current quantitative easing package, and one hawk argued for a tightening.
* The greenback's rise aided by a weaker euro, on concern's Portugal's crisis is worsening after Standard & Poor's downgraded the country's credit ratings.
* The Aussie's rise also fuelled by strong demand against the yen, rising to 83.62, reaching levels seen before the March 11 earthquake and tsunami caused a run to the Japanese currency. The kiwi also stronger at 61.21 yen.
* Against the kiwi the Aussie is largely flat at NZ$1.3606.
* This week sees building approvals and retail sales data in Australia, and trade, building and the National Bank Business Outlook survey in New Zealand.
* New Zealand government debt prices a touch weaker, sending yields up one basis point.
* Australian bond futures slip, with the three-year contract down 0.04 points to 94.950 while the ten-year contract eased 0.03 points to 94.520.
(Australia/New Zealand bureaux) Keywords: MARKETS AUSTRALIA NEWZEALAND FOREX/BONDS (+61 2 9373 1800/+64 4 471 4234) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. 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 Australian dollar at $1.0258, just below a peak of $1.0294 struck in late offshore trade on Friday.
* Aussie propelled to its high on a renewed bout of risk appetite, as well as strong demand for the currency from cross-border merger activity.
* Support for the Aussie seen from $1.0203, with resistance at the $1.0300 handle and then $1.0400.
* The New Zealand dollar at $0.7538, after following in its Aussie cousin's slipstream to a one-month high of $0.7577 high in Friday's offshore trade.
* The kiwi is supported at $0.7457, the March 11 high, with resistance at $0.7607 ahead of its Feb 22 high of $0.7640.
* The stronger antipodean pair defying a bounce in the U.S. dollar, after Federal Reserve officials said there was no need to extend its current quantitative easing package, and one hawk argued for a tightening.
* The greenback's rise aided by a weaker euro, on concern's Portugal's crisis is worsening after Standard & Poor's downgraded the country's credit ratings.
* The Aussie's rise also fuelled by strong demand against the yen, rising to 83.62, reaching levels seen before the March 11 earthquake and tsunami caused a run to the Japanese currency. The kiwi also stronger at 61.21 yen.
* Against the kiwi the Aussie is largely flat at NZ$1.3606.
* This week sees building approvals and retail sales data in Australia, and trade, building and the National Bank Business Outlook survey in New Zealand.
* New Zealand government debt prices a touch weaker, sending yields up one basis point.
* Australian bond futures slip, with the three-year contract down 0.04 points to 94.950 while the ten-year contract eased 0.03 points to 94.520.
(Australia/New Zealand bureaux) Keywords: MARKETS AUSTRALIA NEWZEALAND FOREX/BONDS (+61 2 9373 1800/+64 4 471 4234) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. 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.