The Australian dollar has opened firmer despite some positive US manufacturing activity data.
At 6.30am AEST the local unit was trading at 92.36 US cents, up from 91.99 cents at yesterday’s local close.
The currency regained ground during offshore trade despite the Institute of Supply Management (ISM) reading for June showing an improvement in American manufacturing activity, with the index rising above the 50 level signifying an expansion.
The greenback usually tends to firm on positive US economic news.
But the ISM data also showed manufacturing employment contracting for the first time since September 2009.
The Australian dollar's rise also coincided with gains on US equity markets, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average gaining 0.43 per cent, after rising above 15,000 points earlier in the session, and the broad-based S&P 500 lifting 0.54 per cent.
