Australian and New Zealand dollars ease

The Australian and New Zealand dollars eased in sparse trading on Thursday as investors awaited appearances by two top central bankers that could clarify the outlook for monetary policy in Australia and the United States. The Aussie dollar drifted off to $1.0450, from $1.0471 late in New York and the week's high at $1.0535.
The kiwi currency steadied around $0.8285, after hovering between $0.8259 and $0.8298 in the wake of surprisingly upbeat retail sales data. Both commodity currencies failed to get any lift from gains in Asian stock markets as investors took cover for a speech by Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke in Jackson Hole on Friday. Against the kiwi, the Aussie traded at NZ$1.2615.