* USD resumes trek lower, higher-yielders strong
* NZD lifted by better-than-expected retail numbers
* Focus on 3rd qtr U.S. earnings
By Anirban Nag
SYDNEY, Oct 13 (Reuters) - The U.S. dollar shifted back to the defensive on Tuesday as investors added to long positions in high-yielding currencies on expectations that robust U.S. earnings would sustain risk appetite.
The New Zealand dollar
"Contrary to its current promise to keep the cash rate at its current level until late 2010, we suspect the central bank will, albeit reluctantly, begin a tightening cycle by second quarter of next year," said Su-lin Ong, senior economist at RBC Capital.
The numbers gave the high-flying Australian dollar
The euro
The yen firmed against the dollar
The dollar index <=USD> was down at 76.155, not far from its 14-month low of 75.767, struck on Oct. 8. The dollar received a brief reprieve late last week and early on Monday on hopes that U.S. interest rates would move up earlier than expected.
But those expectations fizzled out and investors refocused on U.S. corporate earnings which, if they beat expectations, could boost appetite for high-yielding currencies, analysts say.
Some investors sell the U.S. dollar when economic optimism grows, buying assets like stocks and commodities instead.
Some of the big corporate names scheduled to post earnings
this week are Intel Corp
U.S. economic data this week includes September retail sales and consumer prices as well as industrial and manufacturing numbers. On Tuesday, Federal Reserve Bank of New York President William Dudley speaks at 1715 GMT while Fed Vice President Donald Kohn speaks on the economic outlook at 1745 GMT. (Editing by Mark Bendeich)