New Zealand dollar sunk, The euro gained

In late October, the New Zealand dollar sunk to a five-month low of $0.6818 as a change in government unsettled investors. 

The dollar index against a basket of six major currencies was 0.1 percent lower at 94.789 .DXY, staying below a three-month high of 95.150 set in late October. 

It had reached that peak on hopes for enactment of U.S. tax reforms. But recent uncertainty over the fate of the tax plans has weighed on the dollar. 

A U.S. Senate tax-cut bill, differing from one already in the House of Representatives, was expected to be unveiled on Thursday, complicating a Republican tax overhaul push and increasing scepticism on Wall Street about the effort.

The euro gained 0.1 percent to $1.1604 EUR= after touching a 3-1/2-month low of $1.1553 at the week's start. The greenback slipped 0.2 percent to 113.640 yen JPY=. U.S. crude oil futures CLc1 was nearly flat at $56.82 a barrel.

Government data showing a rise in domestic crude production had weighed on oil overnight but rising tensions in the Middle East limited the losses. 

U.S. crude rose to $57.92 on Wednesday, highest since July 2015, as tension flared between Saudi Arabia and Iran, while the Saudi crown prince tightened his grip on power. 

Spot gold XAU= added 0.2 percent to $1,283.45 an ounce. 

The precious metal had risen to a three-week high of $1,287.13 an ounce the previous day as a potential delay in the U.S. tax reform plan was seen moderating the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes next year and support non-yielding gold.

Palladium XPD= was 0.1 percent higher at $1,014.25 an ounce. The metal used for auto catalysts has rallied on an expected supply deficit and higher demand in the car market, reaching a 16-year high of $1,019 on Wednesday.