The Australian dollar came off six week highs on Thursday after the country's trade surplus fell in April, while its New Zealand cousin stepped back from a one-month peak. The Australian dollar was last down 0.2 percent at $0.7653 from Wednesday's $0.7677, the highest since mid-April. Australia's trade surplus slipped to A$977 million in April from an upwardly revised A$1.73 billion the previous month, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) showed on Thursday, and below forecasts of A$1 billion.
The Aussie got a major boost after a run of stronger-than-expected data this week, including a solid economic growth report for the March quarter. However, that was still not enough to nudge the currency above $0.7700, a level that has remained elusive since early April as investors see scant reasons for the country's central bank to lift rates.
Across the Tasman Sea, the New Zealand dollar was slightly firmer near a one-month high of $0.7060 hit overnight as global risk sentiment improved on easing concerns over Italian politics and a tech-driven rally in global shares. The kiwi was last up 0.2 percent at $0.7042.
New Zealand government bonds eased, sending yields 8.5 basis points higher at the long end of the curve. Australian government bond futures also softened, with the three-year bond contract off 4 ticks at 97.735. The 10-year contract slipped 7 ticks to 97.165.
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