Investing.com - The New Zealand dollar was lower against its U.S. counterpart on Thursday, as investors remained cautious ahead of the conclusion of the European Central Bank's policy meeting.
NZD/USD hit 0.8352 during late Asian trade, the pair's lowest since January 31; the pair subsequently consolidated at 0.8365, shedding 0.36%.
The pair was likely to find support at 0.8344, the low of January 31 and resistance at 0.8422, the high of January 31.
The ECB was expected to leave interest rates unchanged at 0.75% on Thursday, but markets were awaiting remarks by President Mario Draghi amid wariness that he could express concerns over the impact of the euro’s recent gains on the region’s economic recovery.
In New Zealand, official data earlier showed that the number of employed people fell by 1% in the fourth quarter, disappointing expectations for a 0.4% rise, following a 0.4% fall in the previous quarter.
The report also showed that New Zealand's unemployment rate fell more-than-expected in the last quarter, ticking down to 6.9% from 7.3%. Analysts had expected the unemployment rate to decline to 7.1% in the fourth quarter.
The kiwi was lower against the Australian dollar with AUD/NZD advancing 0.41%, to hit 1.2343.
Also Thursday, official data showed that the Australian economy added 10,400 jobs in January, beating expectations for a 5,000 increase, following a 3,800 decline the previous month.
Australia's unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.4% last month, compared to expectations for a rise to 5.5%.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to release government data on initial jobless claims.
NZD/USD hit 0.8352 during late Asian trade, the pair's lowest since January 31; the pair subsequently consolidated at 0.8365, shedding 0.36%.
The pair was likely to find support at 0.8344, the low of January 31 and resistance at 0.8422, the high of January 31.
The ECB was expected to leave interest rates unchanged at 0.75% on Thursday, but markets were awaiting remarks by President Mario Draghi amid wariness that he could express concerns over the impact of the euro’s recent gains on the region’s economic recovery.
In New Zealand, official data earlier showed that the number of employed people fell by 1% in the fourth quarter, disappointing expectations for a 0.4% rise, following a 0.4% fall in the previous quarter.
The report also showed that New Zealand's unemployment rate fell more-than-expected in the last quarter, ticking down to 6.9% from 7.3%. Analysts had expected the unemployment rate to decline to 7.1% in the fourth quarter.
The kiwi was lower against the Australian dollar with AUD/NZD advancing 0.41%, to hit 1.2343.
Also Thursday, official data showed that the Australian economy added 10,400 jobs in January, beating expectations for a 5,000 increase, following a 3,800 decline the previous month.
Australia's unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.4% last month, compared to expectations for a rise to 5.5%.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to release government data on initial jobless claims.