Australian falls, New Zealand dollar outperforms

The Australian dollar lost ground against a broadly firmer greenback on Thursday, after a report showed China's factory growth nearly stalled in June, further evidence the nation's biggest trading partner is losing steam. It also underperformed the New Zealand currency, which benefited from news the government would spend about half a billion dollars to compensate households in the quake-hit city of Christchurch, whose homes and properties have become uninhabitable.
Sterling stood at A$1.5200, having fallen to a one-month low of A$1.5140 overnight. Against the kiwi, the Aussie plumbed two-week lows at NZ$1.2882, testing the 76.4 percent retracement level of the June 10-16 rise. It was last at NZ$1.2920. The New Zealand dollar was at $0.8164 in late trade, off a session low of $0.8129, further helped by support on the crosses against the Aussie and sterling. Against sterling, the kiwi hit a record high around NZ$1.9604 per pound, before steadying around NZ$1.9634.