NZ dollar falls after data, central bank comments

WELLINGTON, Nov 5 (Reuters) - The New Zealand dollar fell on Thursday after weaker than expected jobs data and a warning from the head of the central bank about the country's slow and vulnerable emergence from recession.

* Kiwi slips to around $0.7206/12 from around $0.7270 early in the session.

* It dropped after New Zealand's jobless rate rose more than expected to a nine-year high in the September quarter, backing the Reserve Bank of New Zealand's (RBNZ) stance of holding rates at a record low 2.5 percent until the second half of 2010 [ID:nWEL468490].

* The currency came under further pressure after RBNZ Governor Alan Bollard said New Zealand's economic recovery was slower and more vulnerable than Australia's and financial markets don't seemto appreciate this [ID:nWLF004435].

* However, markets still pricing in a full rate hike in March because of pressures seen building up in the economy.

* Kiwi slips to a three-month low against the Aussie after the Bollard comments.

* Kiwi seen trading in wide ranges, with support near term seen at $0.7150 and resistance at $0.7360.

* NZ bonds softer in line with long-dated U.S. Treasury debt prices after the U.S. Federal Reserve stuck to its commitment to keep borrowing costs near zero for "an extended period" [ID:nN04453484]. -------------(05 November 2009 13:27 / 27 GMT)-------------

(Last prices as at 6pm NZ time the previous day) 90-DAY LIVE 2.80 (2.80) NOV-2011 4.270 (4.270) 90-DAY (DEC) 97.14 (97.14) APR-2013 5.040 (5.065) 90-DAY (MAR) 96.90 (96.89) DEC-2017 5.710 (5.695) 90-DAY (JUN) 96.15 (96.11) MAY-2021 6.010 (5.995) RBNZ MCI 207 (225) US 10YR BOND 3.522 (3.418) NZD TWI 64.71 (64.95) AU 10YR BOND 5.645 (5.527) NZD/USD 0.7204(0.7208) NZ/US 10YR SPD +219bp(+228bp) NZD/AUD 0.7928(0.7992) NZ/AU 10YR SPD +7bp (+17bp) NZD/EUR 0.4847(0.4876) NZ 2YR SWAP 4.470 (4.470) NZD/JPY 65.25 (65.00) NZ 5YR SWAP 5.620 (5.620) --------------------------------------------------------------- - ((Wellington newsroom tel 64 4 471 4234, fax +64 4 4736 212, wellington.newsroom@reuters.com))