Aussie resumes rebound from 2-1/5 month trough versus greenback

The New Zealand dollar titled higher in Asian trade off early November lows for the sixth session out of nine, following earlier data from New Zealand and ahead of US data later today. 

As of 02:18 GMT, NZD/USD rose 0.22% to 0.6837, with an intraday high at 0.6843, and a low at 0.6813. 

Earlier New Zealand data showed an index tracking business sentiment improved to minus 17 from minus 30, while an index tracking food prices fell 0.2%, compared to a 0.6% dip in November. 

Now investors await US producer prices data, expected to show a 0.1% slip in December, compared to a 0.1% increase in November, while estimated with a 2.5% yearly increase. 

Core prices are expected with a 0.2% increase, compared to a 0.3% increase in November, while the Empire State Manufacturing Index is expected at 11.6, up from 10.9 in December. 

Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City President Esther George is scheduled to speak about the economic outlook and monetary policy later today, while a US government shutdown entered its fourth week, making it the longest such shutdown in US history.