NZ dollar TWI tops 79 for first time in 17 months, kiwi gains vs pound

NZ dollar TWI tops 79 for first time in 17 months, kiwi gains vs pound
Jonathan Underhill
By Jonathan Underhill Sept. 8 (BusinessDesk) - The New Zealand dollar trade-weighted index rose above 79 for the first time in 17 months as the nation's relatively sturdy economic growth, comparative high interest rates and recovering commodity prices underpinned sentiment for the kiwi. The kiwi rose to 74.42 US cents as at 8am in Wellington, having traded as high as 74.79 cents, the highest since May last year, from 74.30 cents late yesterday. The trade-weighted index rose to 78.73 from 78.51 and reached 79.05 overnight, or about 4 perce...