Meanwhile, the New Zealand dollar weakened 0.8% against the greenback to $0.5844, its lowest point since Aug. 13, even after the country's central bank raised its official cash rate by 25 basis points to 2.75%. Analysts said market participants viewed the decision as less hawkish than expected.
"Relative to where markets were and what they might have expected, it doesn't meet their expectations," said Westpac New Zealand strategist Imre Speizer.
July JOLTS job openings and the August ISM manufacturing index, released overnight, were below market expectations, but money markets have reinforced expectations of a Federal Reserve rate hike following Chair Kevin Warsh's speech in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, last week.
Markets are now pricing in a 68% chance of a September Fed hike, up from around 40% a week earlier, according to CME Group's FedWatch tool.
"As for the U.S. data, it is worth bearing in mind that, if the figures are weak, their impact could be offset by heightened tensions in the Middle East," Ishikawa said.
August's jobs and consumer price inflation data are both due before the Fed's next meeting on Sept. 15 and 16. This Friday's employment report is expected to show that employers added 56,000 jobs last month, according to the median estimate of economists polled by Reuters.
Fed Governor Michael Barr said on Tuesday that if inflation does not cool quickly, it will be time for the central bank to raise interest rates.
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