Dollar flat as traders await economic data

DOLLAR trading in tight range in quiet trade as investors sit on the sideline ahead of the release of key economic data tomorrow.

THE dollar is trading in a tight range in quiet trade as investors sit on the sideline ahead of the release of key economic data tomorrow.

At 12pm AEDT today, the local unit was trading at 103.26 US cents, unchanged from the end of yesterday's local session.

Since 7am AEDT today, the dollar has traded between 103.18 and 103.40 cents.

CMC chief market strategist Michael McCarthy said the dollar had failed to make much ground despite sharemarkets making small gains.

"We did a U-turn in sentiment overnight with a weak European session leading into a weak start to the US session, which finished on a high note," he said. "We're watching the euro-US dollar cross rate very closely as a lead-in to what the Aussie dollar might be doing against the US dollar."

Mr McCarthy said the markets are awaiting the release of Chinese manufacturing figures for October and Australian inflation numbers for the September quarter, both due out tomorrow. Australia's inflation rate is expected to rise by 1.6 per cent in the 12 months to September, according to an AAP survey of 15 economists, which could spark a November interest rate cut.

"They could be market-moving events but it does seem as if it's unlikely that we will be making any significant moves ahead of those," Mr McCarthy said.

Meanwhile, Australian bond futures prices were lower at noon. At 12pm AEDT today, the December 10-year bond futures contract was trading at 96.890 (implying a yield of 3.110 per cent), down from 96.935 (3.065 per cent) yesterday. The December three-year bond futures contract was at 97.480 (2.520 per cent), up/down from 97.540 (2.460 per cent).