Continued USD strength in the wake of better data and higher US bond yields is weighing on NZD/USD. Economists at ANZ Bank analyze Kiwi outlook.

US jobs data in focus

Another lift in the USD and US bond yields has taken the US Dollar Index all the way back to early July levels, before its precipitous decline to the year’s low. The culprit: strong US ADP jobs data and bond market nervousness about Fitch’s downgrade of the US credit rating which has ironically seen the USD firm. Clouded and muddy? For sure.

Local Q2 labour market data did play a role in the weakness, mostly on account of the rise in unemployment and a labour supply side thematic, but the big story for NZD/USD now looks to be the USD into NFP data on Friday.