THE Australian dollar was higher at noon today, jumping a quarter of a US cent on the release of record trade data.
The dollar was trading at US91.32c up 0.68 per cent from yesterday's close of US90.70c.
Since 7am AEST, the dollar traded between US91.10c and US91.40c, according to IRESS data.
JP Morgan economist Ben Jarman said investors previously had been concerned with growth slowdown in Asia.
"That's the kind of thing that would normally weigh down on the Aussie, so the fact that we're getting a very strong spike in exports reveals that Asian growth, on that data, is still very strong,'' Mr Jarman said.
The local unit moved up sharply on the release of the trade data at 11.30am AEST, climbing from US91.15c to US91.40c, he said.
The Australian balance of goods and services was a surplus of $3.539 billion in June, seasonally adjusted, from an upwardly revised surplus of $1.825 billion in May, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said today.
The market had forecast a trade surplus of $1.80 billion in June.
CMC Markets foreign exchange dealer Time Waterer said the strong trade numbers would be noticed by offshore investors looking to "go long on growth currencies''.
"The trade balance numbers reinforced what the market already knows... that the Australian economy is in good shape,'' he said.
"Softer equities in Asia would likely keep a lid on the Australian dollar at US91.50c until we see how overseas markets perform this evening.''
He forecast the local unit would trade between US90.90c and US91.50c this afternoon.
