By Ian Chua
SYDNEY (Reuters) - The Australian dollar started trade in Asia on Thursday near its 2016 peak, having soared on the back of surprisingly strong local data just as the greenback, euro and yen settled into a holding pattern.
The Aussie flirted with 73 U.S. cents , its highest since Jan 4, following a 1.7 percent rally on Tuesday. Investors warmed to the currency after news fourth quarter economic growth unexpectedly picked up to a healthy 3.0 percent annual clip.
"We have been taken out of our short AUDUSD recommendation," analysts at BNP Paribas wrote in a note to clients.
"While we have moved to the sidelines for now, we remain of the view that the outlook is bearish for the AUD."
The Aussie scaled a three-month peak on the euro, which slid to A$1.4869 , and came just shy of 83.00 yen - its highest in nearly a month.
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By contrast, the greenback held in familiar territory against the euro and yen even after a report showed solid U.S. jobs growth in the private sector.
The greenback was back near 113.50 yen after losing grip of a two-week high of 114.56. The euro drifted up to $1.0871 , from a one-month trough of $1.0825.
While the ADP National Employment Report pointed to a healthy outcome for Friday's non-farm payrolls, a Federal Reserve survey found that economic conditions varied considerably across regions and within sectors.
The mixed picture remains a headache for Fed policymakers face when they next meet to decide the path of interest rates on March 15-16.
Against the yen, the common currency dipped to 123.40 , from above 124.00.
Investors remained wary of buying the euro after another top European Central Bank (ECB) policymaker hinted at possible action next week, when the ECB holds its policy review.
Executive Board member Benoit Coeure said euro zone banks can deal with rock bottom interest rates and actually benefit from the central bank's efforts to prop up growth and inflation.
Australia's trade data is due later in the morning followed by a private-sector survey on China's services sector.