Aussie & NZ dollars surge on China easing

WELLINGTON/SYDNEY: The Australian and New Zealand dollars jumped in early trade on Monday after China's central bank on the weekend eased policy in a move to give the slowing economy a cash injection, supporting risk sentiment.

* The Aussie leaped three quarters of a cent to $1.0790 from its New York close of $1.0716, and back to its late local level on Friday. It ranged $1.0689 to $1.0786 in the offshore session.

* Aussie dollar sentiment remains bullish, with the uptrend channel from late December seen in place. Immediate resistance seen at $1.0825, with support at $1.0732. A break above $1.0845 open way for a re-test of last July's 30-year peak of $1.1081.

* The New Zealand dollar also bounds higher in early trade to $0.8380, around 0.7 percent up on its New York close at $0.8340.

* Kiwi has been trapped in a broad $0.8200 to $0.8400 range this month. Near term support seen at $0.8290 and below that $0.8250, with strong resistance around $0.8410/20.

* China's central bank cut the amount of cash banks must hold in reserves by 50 basis points to 20.5 percent on Saturday, boosting lending capacity by an estimated 350-400 billion yuan ($55.6-$63.5 billion) in a bid to cushion the world's second-biggest economy from global headwinds. See

* The move, the first since last November, was not seen as a big surprise, as China's economy is seen slowing in the first quarter to an annual rate of 8.2 percent. Any expansion of Chinese activity is seen favouring Australia and New Zealand for whom China is a vital trade partner.

* The lift on "risk on" sentiment boosted the Antipodean cross rates, pushing to levels not seen since early August against the safe-haven yen.

* The Aussie climbs 0.9 percent to 85.85 yen, and the market is now targeting the Aug 1 peak of 86.16 yen. The kiwi also at a six-month high, up 1 percent to 66.70 yen .

* The euro gained against the dollar and the yen on Friday on hopes for a rescue package for Greece but gains were capped before a key meeting on Monday with investors hesitant to make big bets before a long US holiday weekend.

* The euro remains on the back foot against the Aussie at A$1.2222 after hitting a record low of A$1.2124 last week. Versus the kiwi, it sits at NZ$1.5719, within reach of a record low of NZ$1.5575 plumbed last week.

* New Zealand fourth quarter producer prices data, six month government accounts, and a survey of the services sector due later on Monday. Other data this week includes a central bank survey of inflation expectations.

* New Zealand government bonds slip in early trade as safety demand recedes, sending yields two basis points higher across the curve.

* Australian government bond prices finished mixed on Friday and are likely to ease Monday given the shift from safety. Three-year future contract indicated 0.02 points lower at 96.350, and 10-year contracts up 0.005 points to 95.900.