Investing.com - The New Zealand dollar ended the week higher against its U.S. counterpart on Friday, as demand for higher yielding assets was bolstered by signs that the U.S. economic recovery is gaining momentum.
NZD/USD hit 0.8059 on Thursday, the pair’s lowest since January 25; the pair subsequently consolidated at 0.8244 by close of trade on Friday, gaining 0.69% over the week.
The pair is likely to find support at 0.8059, Thursday’s low and a seven-week low and resistance at 0.8306, the high of March6.
Demand for the greenback was hit on Friday, after the U.S. Department of Labor said consumer price inflation rose 0.4% in February, in line with expectations, fueled largely by pricier gasoline.
Core inflation rates, which are stripped of volatile food and energy prices, rose 0.1%, below expectations for a gain of 0.2%.
The soft data fuelled speculation that the Federal Reserve could maintain a policy of economic stimulus, which would dilute the greenback.
Sentiment on the greenback was dented after U.S. industrial production numbers came in flat in February, below expectations for a 0.4% gain, while the University of Michigan’s consumer confidence index also disappointed, coming in at 74.3, below expectations for a reading of 75.7.
The greenback had rallied against its major counterparts earlier in the week, as investors trimmed back expectations for another round of quantitative easing from the Federal Reserve after the central bank upgraded its outlook on the economy and acknowledged the recent improvement in the labor market.
However, policymakers reiterated their intention to keep the benchmark interest rate unchanged at a record low through late 2014 and warned that risks to the economic recovery still remained.
In the week ahead, the U.S. is to release a flurry of data on the housing sector, which investors will be watching closely to gauge the strength of the economic recovery. Elsewhere, New Zealand is to release official data on gross domestic product.
Ahead of the coming week, Investing.com has compiled a list of these and other significant events likely to affect the markets.
Monday, March 19
New Zealand is to publish a report on consumer sentiment, a leading indicator of consumer spending.
Tuesday, March 20
The U.S. is to produce official data on building permits, an excellent gauge of future construction activity, as well as data on housing starts, a leading indicator of economic health. Also Tuesday, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke is to speak at an event in Washington; his comments will be closely watched for possible indications on the future direction of monetary policy.
Later in the day, New Zealand is to publish official data on the current account and visitor arrivals.
Wednesday, March 21
New Zealand is to produce government data on GDP, the broadest measure of economic activity and the foremost indicator of the economy's health.
Also Wednesday, the U.S. is to release industry data on existing home sales, a leading indicator of economic health, as well as official data on crude oil stockpiles.
Thursday, March 22
The U.S. is to publish official data on initial jobless claims, a leading indicator of economic health. Also Thursday, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke is to speak at an event in Washington; his comments will be closely watched for possible indications on the future direction of monetary policy.
Friday, March 23
The U.S. is to round up the week with official data on new home sales, a leading indicator of economic health.
NZD/USD hit 0.8059 on Thursday, the pair’s lowest since January 25; the pair subsequently consolidated at 0.8244 by close of trade on Friday, gaining 0.69% over the week.
The pair is likely to find support at 0.8059, Thursday’s low and a seven-week low and resistance at 0.8306, the high of March6.
Demand for the greenback was hit on Friday, after the U.S. Department of Labor said consumer price inflation rose 0.4% in February, in line with expectations, fueled largely by pricier gasoline.
Core inflation rates, which are stripped of volatile food and energy prices, rose 0.1%, below expectations for a gain of 0.2%.
The soft data fuelled speculation that the Federal Reserve could maintain a policy of economic stimulus, which would dilute the greenback.
Sentiment on the greenback was dented after U.S. industrial production numbers came in flat in February, below expectations for a 0.4% gain, while the University of Michigan’s consumer confidence index also disappointed, coming in at 74.3, below expectations for a reading of 75.7.
The greenback had rallied against its major counterparts earlier in the week, as investors trimmed back expectations for another round of quantitative easing from the Federal Reserve after the central bank upgraded its outlook on the economy and acknowledged the recent improvement in the labor market.
However, policymakers reiterated their intention to keep the benchmark interest rate unchanged at a record low through late 2014 and warned that risks to the economic recovery still remained.
In the week ahead, the U.S. is to release a flurry of data on the housing sector, which investors will be watching closely to gauge the strength of the economic recovery. Elsewhere, New Zealand is to release official data on gross domestic product.
Ahead of the coming week, Investing.com has compiled a list of these and other significant events likely to affect the markets.
Monday, March 19
New Zealand is to publish a report on consumer sentiment, a leading indicator of consumer spending.
Tuesday, March 20
The U.S. is to produce official data on building permits, an excellent gauge of future construction activity, as well as data on housing starts, a leading indicator of economic health. Also Tuesday, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke is to speak at an event in Washington; his comments will be closely watched for possible indications on the future direction of monetary policy.
Later in the day, New Zealand is to publish official data on the current account and visitor arrivals.
Wednesday, March 21
New Zealand is to produce government data on GDP, the broadest measure of economic activity and the foremost indicator of the economy's health.
Also Wednesday, the U.S. is to release industry data on existing home sales, a leading indicator of economic health, as well as official data on crude oil stockpiles.
Thursday, March 22
The U.S. is to publish official data on initial jobless claims, a leading indicator of economic health. Also Thursday, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke is to speak at an event in Washington; his comments will be closely watched for possible indications on the future direction of monetary policy.
Friday, March 23
The U.S. is to round up the week with official data on new home sales, a leading indicator of economic health.