Strong economic data from the top two economies of the world and the country became the jumping board for the Australian dollar to open one US cent higher.

The United States manufacturing sector rose above expectation in August, while the same sector in China also posted gains. A third factor lay in Australia's fast-paced economic growth in the second quarter.

The local currency is trading at 91.11 US cents. The Aussie closed at 90.1 US cents Wednesday since it had been trading between 89.88 and 91.14 US cents yesterday. The local unit is equivalent to 76.95 yen, 71.1 euro cents, and 58.91 pence.

Australian and New Zealand senior markets dealer Alex Sinton said, “The US data overnight has helped keep the edge on things.” Sinton predicted the local currency to trade between 90.7 and 91.5 US cents.

In New Zealand, the kiwi could take on the lead from favorable data in the United States, China, and Australia. The New Zealand dollar was buying US71.14 cents from US70.19 cents at 5 p.m. Wednesday. The kiwi also rose to 0.5557 euro from 0.5524, and was up to 60.05 yen from 59.20.

The rise in milk and dairy product prices during Fonterra's overnight online trading event is expected to push the kiwi further up.