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* Aussie gains over 2 percent on U.S. dollar after RBA drops
easing bias
* Kiwi climbs over 1 percent versus greenback
* Dollar gains on euro and yen
* Selling of yen by Japanese banks supports dollar/yen
-trader
(Updates with late New York prices)
By Daniel Bases
NEW YORK, Feb 4 (Reuters) - The Australian dollar
rose more than 2 percent on Tuesday after the country's central
bank dropped its easing bias toward interest rates and toned
down its long-term call for the currency to weaken.
The U.S. dollar and euro gained back some ground against the
yen but were firmly in recent ranges, reflecting the drop in
volatility that accompanied the flood of money out of emerging
economies in search of traditional safe havens in the developed
world.
"Most of the market was short Aussie and Kiwi into last
night. The RBA (Reserve Bank of Australia) surprised them
hawkishly. The fact that the world is not going to end, even if
China slows down according to the RBA has taken somewhat the
boot off of the neck of risk," said Lane Newman, director of
foreign exchange at ING Capital Markets in New York.
The Aussie has fallen by almost a fifth in the past 12
months as a commodities boom expired, growth in China began to
slow and the central bank campaigned for a weaker currency to
help stir economic growth.
Against the U.S. dollar the Aussie was up 2.17 percent at
US$0.8937. The New Zealand dollar accelerated its rise against
the greenback in late New York trade, to gain 1.58 percent on
the day, to US$0.8210.
There had already been signs of a turnaround in the Aussie's
performance against the New Zealand dollar in the past week. A
favorite trade for hedge funds late last year, the kiwi gained
9.5 percent against the Aussie between October and Jan. 24.
Since then the Aussie has reclaimed around 3 percent.
While the New Zealand economy continues to do better than
its Australian counterpart, analysts say a full percentage point
of rate hikes are now fully priced in, leaving room for some
pull back.
The euro dropped below $1.35 against the dollar, revisiting
Monday's two-month low of $1.3475 before cutting the
majority of its losses.
"Part of the reason why the euro is not really participating
in the moves today where the dollar is weaker, has to do with
this fear the ECB (European Central Bank) is going to ease
policy again on Thursday," said Jens Nordvig, head of G10 FX
strategy at Nomura Securities in New York.
Ahead of the ECB's meeting, the euro traded down 0.07
percent to $1.3515.
"I think there are reasons why they should do it but I am
not convinced that they will," Nordvig said.
YEN DIP
The Aussie's jump came as the yen eased back from a
two-month high versus the U.S. dollar, though its losses were
tempered by fragile sentiment after a disappointing reading on
U.S. factory activity stirred concerns about the growth outlook.
A stronger start for U.S. equities that appeared to break
the downward spiral of global markets for the past several days
is helping bolster the greenback as safe-haven risk ebbs ever so
slightly.
The U.S. dollar was up 0.65 percent at 101.64 yen ,
staying above Monday's low of 100.77 yen, its lowest level
against the Japanese currency since Nov. 21.
Yen-selling flows from Japanese banks helped lend support to
the dollar, said a trader for a European bank in Tokyo. A
Singapore-based trader cited dollar-buying by Japanese
importers.
The yen, a big loser against the dollar in the past year,
has seen a turnaround in the past week on the back of the
sell-off in emerging markets. The dollar hit a peak of 105.40
yen in January.
Many analysts believe the flow of money out of the
developing world will continue as the U.S. Federal Reserve
proceeds with reductions in its bond-buying stimulus.
A mixed report on U.S. factory orders, where new orders fell
in December but rose for a third straight month when the
volatile transportation sector was excluded, tempered Monday's
poor reading on U.S. manufacturing.
The euro gained 0.6 percent against the Japanese currency at
137.32 yen, having earlier touched a better-than two month low
of 136.20.
(Additional reporting by Masayuki Kitano, Ian Chua and Patrick
Graham; Editing by Pravin Char, Chris Reese and Tom Brown)
((daniel.bases@thomsonreuters.com)(+1 646 223 6131)(Reuters
Messaging: daniel.bases.reuters.com@reuters.net))
((Currency bid prices at 04:11PM (2111 GMT)
Description RIC Last U.S. Close
Previous
Session Pct Change YTD Pct
Change High Bid Low Bid
Euro/Dollar EUR= $1.3514 $1.3524 -0.07% -1.68% +1.3538 +1.3494
Dollar/Yen JPY= 101.6100 100.9700 +0.63% -3.37% +101.6700 +100.7700
Euro/Yen EURJPY= 137.33 136.55 +0.57% -5.37% +137.4400 +136.2500
Dollar/Swiss CHF= 0.9042 0.9007 +0.39% +1.28% +0.9061 +0.9009
Sterling/Dollar GBP= 1.6325 1.6304 +0.13% -1.40% +1.6344 +1.6259
Dollar/Canadian CAD= 1.1082 1.1116 -0.31% +4.35% +1.1123 +1.1048
Australian/Dollar AUD= 0.8933 0.8747 +2.13% +0.22% +0.8941 +0.8732
Euro/Swiss EURCHF= 1.2220 1.2181 +0.32% -0.42% +1.2232 +1.2187
Euro/Sterling EURGBP= 0.8278 0.8293 -0.18% -0.23% +0.8325 +0.8264
NZ Dollar/DollAuddar NZD= 0.8212 0.8081 +1.62% +0.07% +0.8225 +0.8052
Dollar/Norway NOK= 6.2870 6.2826 +0.07% +3.64% +6.3132 +6.2740
Euro/Norway EURNOK= 8.4960 8.4999 -0.05% +1.89% +8.5262 +8.4880
Dollar/Sweden SEK= 6.5207 6.5450 -0.44% +1.53% +6.5585 +6.5155
Euro/Sweden EURSEK= 8.8135 8.8528 -0.44% -0.59% +8.8615 +8.8072
All spots FX=
Tokyo spots AFX=
Europe spots EFX=
Volatilities FXVOL=
Tokyo Forex market info from BOJ TKYFX World central bank news CEN
Economic Forecasts... ECON Official rates...INT/RATE
Forex Diary.......MI/DIARY Top events........M/DIARY
Diaries...........DIARY Diaries Index........IND/DIARY
Press Digests.....PRESS Polls on G7 economies..SURVEY/
European markets......MARKETS/))))
Keywords: MARKETS FOREX/