NZ dollar extends slide as bets for US rate hike in March put focus on Yellen

NZ dollar extends slide as bets for US rate hike in March put focus on Yellen
Jonathan Underhill
By Jonathan Underhill March 3 (BusinessDesk) - The New Zealand dollar extended its decline to a seven-week low as growing speculation the Federal Reserve will hike interest rates this month put the focus on a speech by Fed chair Janet Yellen tonight. The kiwi dollar fell to 70.54 US cents and earlier touched 70.46 cents, the lowest since Jan. 12, from 71.33 cents late yesterday. The trade-weighted index fell to 77.34 from 77.90. The US dollar index rose to its highest level since early January as a third Fed official this week, Fed gov...