NZ dollar softer on weak data, stock markets

WELLINGTON, Feb 27 - The New Zealand dollar <NZD=> trundled lower on Friday as weak domestic housing data and lower regional stock markets saw investors lighten their positions in the risky kiwi.

* Kiwi trades around $0.5060/65, having touched a high of $0.5087 earlier.

* The U.S. dollar strengthens against a broadly-weaker yen, but dips against the euro. Weak U.S. economic data offered safe-haven support to the greenback.

* Locally, the number of new dwelling consents approved in New Zealand fell to a record low in January, reinforcing views the central bank will continue to lower rates.

* Reserve Bank of New Zealand Governor Alan Bollard said the country's flexible exchange rate is an important buffer against external shocks. The kiwi has fallen about 13 percent against the U.S. dollar this year. See: [nWEL411668]

* Kiwi a shade lower against the yen <NZDJPY=R> after touching a five-week high earlier on fears over the shrinking Japanese economy. The kiwi was also weaker against the Aussie <NZDAUD=R> and the euro <NZDEUR=>.

* NZ dollar seen supported near-term at $0.50 and resistance at $0.5180.

* NZ bonds a shade firmer, buoyed by safe-haven flows amid more domestic economic gloom. --------------Feb 27 snapshot at 02.00 p.m. (0100 GMT)----------

(figures in brackets from Feb 26) 90-DAY BILLS (MAR) 96.98 (PREV 96.93) 90-DAYS 3.19 (PREV 3.26) 90-DAY BILLS (JUN) 97.27 (PREV 97.24) 07/09 2.97 (PREV 2.98) 90-DAY BILLS (SEP) 97.29 (PREV 97.26) 11/11 3.50 (PREV 3.53) NZD TRADE WEIGHTED 52.05 (PREV 52.33) 04/13 3.89 (PREV 3.91) NZD/USD 0.5060/65 (PREV 0.5096/06) 12/17 4.50 (PREV 4.53) NZD/AUD 0.7835/55 (PREV 0.7837/57) RBNZ MCI -840 (PREV -809) NZD/EUR 0.3980/86 (PREV 0.4000/08) US 10-YR 2.98 (PREV 2.92) NZD/JPY 49.54/61 (PREV 49.78/82) AU 10-YR 4.32 (PREV 4.25) ***SPREADS: NZ/US 10-YR +152 (+161) NZ/AUS 10-YR +18 *** ----------------------------------------------------------------