Aus dollar nudges US80c

A SURGING Australian dollar was nudging $US80¢ late yesterday, as the currency reached its highest trading levels in several months.

By late yesterday the dollar had hit $US79.39¢, its highest trading point since last September when it climbed over the $US80¢ threshold.

In 2017 the Australian dollar ranged between $US71.6¢, hitting a high of $US81.24¢ in September before finishing the year having climbed about 7 per cent up against the greenback in 12 months.

Meanwhile gold mining stocks were the big winners on the ASX yesterday after the precious metal hit a fourmonth high on Friday.

Newcrest Mining jumped 2.9 per cent to $23.62, Evolution Mining rose 6.64 per cent to $2.73 and Resolute Mining lifted 5.86 per cent to $1.18.