NZ dollar extends gain vs. A$ as RBA minutes, NZ govt forecasts show diverging economies

NZ dollar extends gain vs. A$ as RBA minutes, NZ govt forecasts show diverging economies
By Paul McBeth Dec. 17 (BusinessDesk) - The New Zealand dollar extended its rally against its trans-Tasman counterpart as downbeat minutes to the latest Reserve Bank of Australia policy review and increasingly optimistic local government forecasts underline the divergence between the neighbouring economies. The kiwi rose as high as 92.69 Australian cents, a new five-year high, and traded at 92.59 cents at 5pm in Wellington from 92.40 cents yesterday. It gained to 82.82 US cents at 5pm from 82.55 cents at 8am, unchanged from 82.82 cents yest...