SYDNEY: The Australian dollar gained a quarter of a cent after China inflation cooled in March, leaving policymakers room to keep monetary conditions loose to support a burgeoning economic recovery.

The Aussie dollar was last at $1.0443, showing a gain of 0.3 percent on the day, and closing in on a 2-1/2-month peak of $1.0498 set last week.

Copyright Reuters, 2013