Investing.com - The Kiwi rose after better that expected jobs data while the Aussie trended lower ahead of views on trade in Asia on Wednesday.
NZD/USD traded at 0.6517, up 0.05%, while AUD/USD changed hands at 0.7033, down 0.07%. USD/JPY traded at 119.88, down 0.06%.
In Australia ahead comes building approvals, private house approvals, and exports and imports along with the trade balance.
Later in the day, Japan reports overtime pay.
Earlier in Australia, the AIG services index rose 2.1 points to 48.4 for January.
In New Zealand, the unemployment rate dropped sharply to 5.3% from an expected 6.1% rate.
The drop was the subject of some assessment by Capital Economics in A Feb. 3 note to clients that said it cuts the chance of a rate cut going forward.
"The startling plunge in the unemployment rate in New Zealand in the fourth quarter of last year, to 5.3% from 6.0% in the third quarter, decreases the chances that the RBNZ will reduce interest rates further.
"The main reason, however, why the unemployment rate fell so far was because the labour force increased by just 5,000. That followed an unusually weak -9,000 decline in the third quarter and is odd when we know that net migration has remained close to record highs. The circle can be squared because once again the number of people classed as “not in the labour force” rose by 14,000, largely due to 31,500 people retiring."
The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback’s strength against a trade-weighted basket of six major currencies, was quoted at 98.87.
Overnight, the dollar remained moderately lower against the other major currencies on Tuesday, as oil prices resumed their downward trend and as concerns over global economic growth persisted.
Meanwhile, investors remained cautious amid ongoing concerns over global economic growth after data on Monday showed that manufacturing activity in China contracted for a sixth straight month in January.