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NZ dollar steady amid Pacific tsunami warning

Published: 29 Sep 2009 13:35:04 PST

WELLINGTON, Sept 30 - The New Zealand dollar <NZD=> held steady against the U.S. dollar on Wednesday, with focus largely on a powerful earthquake in the Pacific.

* Kiwi trades around $0.7141/49 in thin trade, little changed from opening level while softer from $0.72 in late trade on Tuesday as confidence in a global recovery backed risky trades. * Traders say markets quiet, with focus on a tsunami generated by a 8.0 magnitude earthquake that had killed an unknown number of people in American and western Samoa. [ID:nN29161986]

* A small tsunami expected in NZ coastal area.

* U.S. dollar higher after sliding to an eight-month low against the yen, after Japan's finance minister said the government might take action if currency moves were irregular.

* Kiwi struggled against the Aussie <NZDAUD=R> as markets priced in an Australian rate rise any time from November.

* NZ dollar lower against the euro <NZDEUR=R> and the yen <NZDJPY=R>, sending the trade-weighted index down 0.6 percent.

* NZ dollar seen supported around $0.7110, and facing resistance at $0.7200 in the near term.

* NZ data flows thin this week with National Bank of NZ business survey due on Wednesday.

* NZ debt steady, as mixed U.S. economic data favoured U.S. Treasuries long bonds. -------------(30 September 2009 10:02 / 2102 GMT)-------------

(Last prices as at 6pm NZ time the previous day) 90-DAY LIVE 2.80 (2.80) NOV-2011 4.090 (4.100) 90-DAY (DEC) untraded (97.13) APR-2013 4.930 (4.920) 90-DAY (MAR) 96.76 (96.77) DEC-2017 5.600 (5.600) 90-DAY (JUN) 96.18 (96.18) MAY-2021 5.940 (5.940) RBNZ MCI 242 (274) US 10YR BOND 3.293 (3.302) NZD TWI 65.17 (65.59) AU 10YR BOND 5.300 (5.298) NZD/USD 0.7141(0.7204) NZ/US 10YR SPD +231bp(+230bp) NZD/AUD 0.8201(0.8228) NZ/AU 10YR SPD +30bp (+30bp) NZD/EUR 0.4896(0.4922) NZ 2YR SWAP 4.220 (4.220) NZD/JPY 64.33 (64.76) NZ 5YR SWAP 5.460 (5.410) --------------------------------------------------------------- - ( --------------------------------------------------------------- - ((Wellington newsroom tel 64 4 471 4234, fax +64 4 4736 212, wellington.newsroom@reuters.com