Wellington, Aug 31 NZPA - The New Zealand dollar ended lower today even though the National Bank Business Outlook survey showed a big jump in business confidence.

ANZ chief foreign exchange dealer Murray Hindley said the survey was not a big market mover as confidence had improved in earlier surveys.

He said the NZ dollar was more influenced by weaker Asian stock markets.

Asian equity markets headed lower on Monday, with Chinese shares tumbling over 5 percent, reflecting unease about government measures that could slow the liquidity that's sent the market surging this year, Associated Press reported.

Traders also monitored comments by Reserve Bank governor Alan Bollard today on his return from an annual gathering of central bankers in Wyoming. Dr Bollard said on Radio New Zealand that a recovery was beginning but was fragile.

Mr Hindley said the NZ dollar was fairly range bound against the US dollar at the moment with support at US68.10c and resistance at US68.50c.

It was at US68.25c at 5pm from US68.43c at 8am and US68.65c at 5pm on Friday.

Against the Australian dollar it fell to A81.25c from A81.82c at Friday's local close, and it fell sharply to 63.28 yen from 64.30 on Friday. The yen hit a seven-week peak against the dollar on Monday as short-term players chased it higher following a thumping win for the opposition Democratic Party in Japan's election, Reuters reported.

The trade weighted index fell to 63.30 from 63.66 on Friday.