NZ dollar heads for 5.4% decline in 2018 as US rate outlook dominates

NZ dollar heads for 5.4% decline in 2018 as US rate outlook dominates
Paul McBeth
By Paul McBeth Dec. 31 (BusinessDesk) - The New Zealand dollar is heading for a 5.4 percent decline against the greenback this year, with US interest rates the main focus for 2018.  The kiwi traded at 67.05 US cents at 1pm in Wellington, largely unchanged from Friday, and down from 70.86 cents at the start of the year. The trade-weighted index was at 73.28 from 73.37 last week, and is heading for a more muted 1.2 percent annual decline from 74.15.  The greenback spent much of 2018 on the rise as robust economic growth at the start of t...