NZD/USD currently sits at $0.6371, 4 pips......>

KIWI: NZD/USD currently sits at $0.6371, 4 pips higher on the day. This occurs

after the pair shed 37 pips on Thursday as the kiwi continued to struggle.

- Thursday's Asia-Pac hours saw the rate slide as risk appetite turned sour,

with reported NZD sales vs. JPY triggered by the S&P500 futures entering

negative territory. Yuan weakness may have spilled over into the kiwi somewhat,

adding weight to the pair. The rate remained limited in Europe, before edging

lower as slightly hawkish remarks from Fed's Harker ("we should stay here for a

while") lent support to USD. Subsequent bounce from the new cycle low of $0.6362

took the pair to $0.6380 before it eased off a tad into the close.

- NZD/USD had just 5 up days in the last 25 sessions, that is to say since the

Jul 19 cycle peak. Bears need a break below trendline resistance-turned-support,

today at $0.6351, to maintain the downside momentum. Below opens the lower

Bollinger band (2%) at $0.6329. Bulls need to recover the Aug 7 low of $0.6378,

breached yesterday, before challenging the $0.6400 mark.

- NZ retail sales ex inflation will be published at 23:45 BST.