NZ dollar ekes out gains on upbeat Australian consumer confidence

NZ dollar ekes out gains on upbeat Australian consumer confidence
By Paul McBeth July 11 (BusinessDesk) - The New Zealand dollar followed its trans-Tasman counterpart higher after an upbeat Australian consumer confidence report snapped pessimism after US stocks and commodity prices weakened. The kiwi rose to 79.45 US cents at 5pm from 79.30 cents at 8am and 79.27 cents yesterday. The trade-weighted index edged up to 72.27 from 72.18 yesterday. Australian consumer sentiment rose to a six-month high, while still showing the number of pessimists outnumber optimists, in a Westpac Banking and Melbourne Institu...