Investing.com - The New Zealand dollar eased in early Asia on Monday and the yen ticked higher in a light data day.
NZD/USD traded at 0.6682, down 0.04%, while USD/JPY changed hands at 121.88, down 0.14% and AUD/USD traded at 0.7311, down 0.01%.
In New Zealand, RBNZ Deputy Governor Grant Spencer speaks on central bank view of the property market but it's a private event 1330 local time, (0130 GMT).
The final June Japanese Leading Index is due out at 1400 local time (0500 GMT).
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Dennis Lockhart is to speak later on Monday and his comments will be closely watched.
The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback against a trade-weighted index of currencies, was quoted flat at 94.84.
Last week, the dollar fell more than 1% against the euro and the yen on Friday as weak factory data from China added to concerns over slowing global growth and added to worries that the Federal Reserve may delay hiking interest rates.
Data on Friday showed that manufacturing activity in China contracted at the fastest rate in six-and-a-half years in August, exacerbating fears over a slowdown in the world’s second-largest economy.
The preliminary reading of the Caixin China manufacturing purchasing managers' index came in at 47.1, down from July's final reading of 47.8.
It was the weakest level since March 2009 and was well below the 50 level separating expansion from contraction.
The weak data underlined fears over the outlook for global growth and added to doubts over whether the U.S. central bank will hike interest rates next month.
Financial markets have been roiled since China devalued the yuan on August 11, sparking a selloff in equities, commodities and emerging-market assets.
The single currency received an additional boost after data showed that euro zone private sector growth unexpectedly accelerated this month as new orders rose.
The preliminary reading of the euro area’s composite PMI, which covers both the manufacturing and service sectors, rose to 54.1 this month from July's 53.9. Economists had expected the index to tick down to 53.8.
In recent months the dollar had been boosted by expectations that the improving U.S. economy would prompt the Fed to raise borrowing costs as soon as September.
But mounting uncertainty over the global growth outlook and the subdued U.S. inflation outlook has seen investors push back expectations for an initial rate hike to December.
In the week ahead, investors will be looking ahead to Wednesday’s data on U.S. durable goods orders for a fresh reading on the strength of the economy.