16 Jan 2014

Dollar at 8-year high against Australian

4:05 pm on 16 January 2014

The New Zealand dollar has surged to its highest level in more than eight years against its Australian counerpart after weaker than expected Australian jobs figures.

NZ and Australian currency.

Photo: AFP

The Kiwi traded as high as 94.52 Australian cents on Thursday, up nearly 1c from just before figures were released showing that Australian jobs unexpectedly fell in December last year.

Australia's jobless rate remains at 5.8% - but only because its participation rate fell to a near eight-year low.