SYDNEY (Reuters) - The Australian and New Zealand dollars held near multi-week highs on Friday, both buoyed by positive economic news at home and market expectations for only gradual further rate rises in the United States.
The Aussie dollar <AUD=D4> was firm at $0.7667, having stretched to a five-week peak of $0.7680 overnight. The currency was up 2 percent on the week so far, with the U.S. dollar undermined by a cautious outlook on inflation from the Federal Reserve.
Breaks of chart resistance had also laid the groundwork for a run to the next target at $0.7730.
"From a technical perspective the Aussie has room to move higher and a weekly close above $0.7611 would support the view for further gains near term," said Rodrigo Catril, a senior FX strategist at NAB.
"With a light domestic calendar, U.S. tax reform and its impact on the USD is likely to be the determining factor of AUD fortunes over the coming week."
The U.S. currency has waxed and waned with the prospects for the Republicans' tax cuts, which may be voted on as early as next week. Passage would tend to support Wall Street stocks and the dollar, while a failure could see a sharp reversal in the currency.
The Aussie has been underpinned by strong economic data with November jobs figures out on Thursday blowing past all expectations.
Its kiwi counterpart was boosted earlier in the week by the selection of Adrian Orr, a well-regarded former central banker, to head the Reserve Bank of New Zealand.
The kiwi <NZD=D4> was steady at $0.6990, having hit its highest in almost two months at $0.7028 on Thursday. It held gains of 2.1 percent for the week so far, but faces stiff resistance around $0.7050.
Its next major test will be New Zealand's gross domestic product data on Dec. 21, which is expected to show that growth slowed in the third quarter.
Westpac Economist Michael Gordon is tipping growth of 0.4 percent, half the pace of the second quarter.
"A soft GDP result could knock interest rates and the New Zealand dollar lower on the day, although there's already evidence emerging that the weakness was temporary," he said.
Gordon also noted that the report could contain large upward revisions to economic growth over the past couple of years, which would balance any softness in the third quarter.
New Zealand government bonds <0#NZTSY=> rallied in line with U.S. Treasuries, with yields as much as 5 basis points lower at the long end.
Australian government bond futures likewise gained, with the three-year bond contract <YTTc1> up 4.5 ticks at 97.955. The 10-year contract <YTCc1> added 4.75 ticks to 97.4700.
(Reporting by Wayne Cole; Editing by Eric Meijer)
