Late Change NZD/USD 0.8233 -0.0027 NZD/AUD 0.8036 +0.0057 NZD/JPY 63.32 -0.1 April 2013 Bond 2.975% -4.0 bps May 2021 Bond 4.425% -4.0 bps 10-Year U.S. Spread +238 bps -1.0 bps 90-Day Bank Bill 2.87% -4.0 bps WELLINGTON (Dow Jones)--The New Zealand dollar was trading lower late Monday in holiday-thinned Asian trade, after European Union finance ministers failed over the weekend to produce an agreement on how to deal with the region's deepening debt woes. ANZ Foreign Exchange Manager Murray Hindley said trading was very quiet and the Kiwi is weaker with Asian bourses in the red. "There is just a bit of risk off through the Asian session." Westpac Bank Senior Market Strategist Imre Speizer also noted that global risk sentiment remains weak and the New Zealand dollar will "continue to suffer in such an environment." Speizer said the Kiwi could dip to 0.7975 against the dollar over the next few weeks. Domestically, investors will be watching for Wednesday's balance of payments data as well as second-quarter gross domestic product data due Thursday. Fonterra's Internet-based auction Tuesday will also garner interest. Hindley says, however, the main event risk of the week is the Federal Open Market Committee meeting Tuesday and Wednesday in the U.S., and any subsequent comment from U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. Government bonds ended slightly higher, reversing some of the move late last week, while swap rates pushed lower. A local bond trader said overall markets were very quiet and there were no specific drivers. -By Rebecca Howard, Dow Jones Newswires; 64-4-471-5990; rebecca.howard@dowjones.com

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