Investing.com - The Australian dollar traded mixed after GDP growth for major trading partner China rose slightly more than expected in the first quarter, though a leading index survey pointed to a drop in momentum at home.
Chian's first quarter GDP rose 7.4%, while March retail sales increased 12.2%, slightly above 12.1% expected, and March industrial output rose 8.8%, slightly below the 9.0% expected.
Economists expected China GDP growth slowed to 7.3% year-on-year, from a gain of 7.7% in the previous quarter.
Australia's March Westpac-MI Leading Index fell to 98.38 in March from 98.41 the previous month.
AUD/USD traded at 0.9357, down 0.05%, after the data though occassionally bouncing into positive territory.
Later Bank of Japan Governor Governor Haruhiko Kuroda is due to deliver a short speech at 1515 (0615 GMT).
USD/JPY traded at 102.12, up 0.20%.
NZD/USD remained weaker at 0.8579, down 0.71%, after CPI rose 0.3% quarter-on-quarter, compared to an expected 0.5%.
Overnight, the dollar firmed against most major currencies Tuesday after better-than-expected U.S. inflation rates hit the wire, though soft data out of the housing sector capped the greenback's gains.
The Labor Department reported earlier that the U.S. consumer price index rose 0.2% in March, exceeding expectations for a 0.1% gain, after a 0.1% uptick the previous month.
The on-year rate rose 1.5% in March, beating estimates for a 1.4% gain though still below the Fed's 2% target.
The core consumer price index, which excludes volatile food and energy items, rose 0.2% last month, beating estimates for a 0.1% increase, after a 0.1% gain in February.
The on-year core consumer prices index rose 1,7%, beating estimates for the index to remain unchanged at 1.6%.
Elsewhere, a separate report showed that the Empire State manufacturing index fell to 1.3 for April from 5.6 in March, defying expectations for a rise to 8.2.
Investors viewed Tuesday's overall data as solid enough to keep the Federal Reserve dismantling its monthly asset-purchasing program, which currently stands at $55 billion.
Monthly bond purchases by the Fed weaken the dollar by suppressing borrowing costs, sending investors to stocks in hopes in investing and hiring follow.
Soft housing data watered down demand for the greenback.
The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index came in at 47 for April, missing market calls for a reading of 50.
Readings below 50 mean more builders view market conditions as poor than favorable, and April's showing marked the third consecutive month of a number below that threshold.
The US Dollar Index, which tracks the performance of the greenback versus a basket of six other major currencies, was up 0.05% at 79.90.
On Wednesday, the U.S. is to produce reports on housing starts, building permits and industrial production.