Published at 23:49 (GMT) 09 Mar

AUD/JPY, AUD/USD Flows - AUD hit 6-wk highs after Westpac; ANZ, NAB data + RBA Lowe (HTSC2001)

Aussie extends gains to fresh 6-week highs of 0.9163, up from 0.9150-55, after strong Westpac consumer confidence data, the 3 strong data from the 3 big 4 Australia banks, since yesterday. Australia Westpac-MI consumer confidence for March +0.2% to 117.3, despite the latest 25bps RBA hike to 4.00%. This comes after yesterday strong data from the other 2 big Aust banks. NAB Business conditions index for February jumps to +8 vs +3, business confidence index rises to +19 from +15. ANZ Feb overall jobs ads +19.1%m/m, newspaper jobs ads +13.1%m/m. AUD, AUD/JPY edging toward 2-week highs of 82.50 again, also supported by relatively hawkish comments from RBA Lowe earlier that Australia must expand supply side of economy. AUD/USD offers at 0.9170-80/ 0.9200 for now. Bids 0.9100.WL