Late Change NZD/USD 0.8168 -0.0071 NZD/AUD 0.7944 +0.0023 NZD/JPY 67.563 +0.049 April 2015 Bond 3.035% -0.5 bps April 2023 Bond 4.27% +2.0 bps 10-Year U.S. Spread +199 bps -7.0 bps 90-Day Bank Bill 2.73% unchanged WELLINGTON (Dow Jones)--The New Zealand dollar was weaker against the U.S. dollar late Wednesday following broad strength in the U.S. currency after the release of minutes from the March 13 meeting of the U.S. Federal Reserve's policy-making committee, and amid weakness in the Australian dollar due to local data. The New Zealand dollar moved sharply lower versus the U.S. dollar in early trading after the Federal Open Market Committee minutes showed little support for a third round of quantitative easing, or QE3, ANZ Senior Dealer Alex Sinton said. It was dragged down further later in the session on the "coat tails" of the Australian dollar following disappointing trade data there, Bank of New Zealand Currency Strategist Mike Jones said. "The weak trade data and more whispers about slowing Chinese demand have undermined the Aussie, and the Kiwi has just been dragged lower," he said. Australia, which is counting on a stellar export performance to fan growth, recorded a trade deficit of A$480 million in February, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said earlier. "I wouldn't be surprised to see the London markets take the Aussie dollar lower still, as I think those trade numbers were bearish for the future...The Aussie is certainly dictating direction for the Kiwi-U.S.," Jones said. New Zealand government bonds were mixed, with the yield curve steepening as buyers came in at the short end, a local bond trader said. -By Lucy Craymer, Dow Jones Newswires; +64-4-471-5990; lucy.craymer@dowjones.com

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