Antipodean Currencies Fall Amid Risk Aversion

(RTTNews) - The antipodean currencies such as the Australia and the New Zealand dollars weakened against their major currencies in the Asian session on Monday, as traders remain cautious and remained reluctant to pick up stocks amid a lack of significant triggers.

Crude oil prices settled lower, weighed down by concerns about the outlook for global oil demand and a firm greenback. West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures for July shed $0.56 or 0.7 percent at $80.73 a barrel for the week but gained 3 percent for the week.

In economic news, data from Statistics New Zealand showed that New Zealand posted a merchandise trade surplus of NZ$204 million in May. That exceeded expectations for a surplus of NZ$155 million following the downwardly revised NZ$3 million shortfall in April.

Exports were up 2.9 percent on month to NZ$7,18 billion - up from the downwardly revised NZ$6.31 billion in the previous month. Imports came in at NZ$6.95 billion, up from NZ$6.32 billion a month earlier.

In the Asian trading today, the Australian dollar fell to a 5-day low of 1.6125 against the euro, from Friday's closing value of 1.6101. The EUR/AUD pair may test support near the 1.64 region.

Against U.S. and the Canadian dollars, the aussie slipped to 6-day lows of 0.6626 and 0.9083 from last week's closing quotes of 0.6641 and 0.9093, respectively. If the aussie extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 0.64 against the greenback and 0.89 against the loonie.

The aussie edged down to 105.81 against the yen, from an early 17-year high of 106.17. On the downside, 103.00 is seen as the next support level for the aussie.

The NZ dollar fell to a 6-day low of 0.6105 against the U.S. dollar and a 4-day low of 1.7510 against the euro, from last week's closing quotes of 0.6119 and 1.7476, respectively. If the kiwi extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 0.59 against the greenback and 1.76 against the euro.

Against the yen, the kiwi dropped to 97.49 from Friday's closing value of 97.98. The NZD/JPY pay may test support near the 95.00 region.

The kiwi edged down to 1.0867 against the Australian dollar, from last week's closing value of 1.0855. On the downside, 1.10 is seen as the next support level for the kiwi.

Looking ahead, Germany's ifo business confidence survey data for June and the Confederation of British Industry's Industrial Trends survey data for June are due to be released in the European session.

In the New York session, U.S. Dallas Fed manufacturing business index for June is slated to release.