Aussie & NZ dollars higher, wary on EU fund report

WELLINGTON/SYDNEY: The Australian and New Zealand dollars were tentatively firmer on Wednesday amid reports that France and Germany have agreed on a significant increase in the euro zone's bailout fund to tackle the region's debt woes.

* The Aussie at around $1.0256 after it had traded as low as $1.0118 overnight in a choppy session. It jumped as high as $1.0326 when the EU report first hit, before pulling back as doubts emerged on its veracity.

* Aussie seen in broad range of $1.0118 and $1.0372, with near term support at $1.0200 with $1.0325 first hurdle higher.

* The New Zealand dollar also edges higher to $0.7954, after touching an overnight low of $0.7861, and against its Tuesday late local level of $0.7922.

* Kiwi support around $0.7900 and below that $0.7857 with $0.7975 the first line of resistance ahead of $0.8015.

* The euro gained after a British newspaper reports France and Germany have agreed to leverage the European Financial Stabilization Facility (EFSF) to two trillion euros from its current 440 billion euros. Sentiment also lifted by a rise in stocks.

* Market outlook still being dictated by expectations of this weekend's European leaders' summit and whether it will deliver a convincing strategy to tackle the region's sovereign woes. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said more steps would be necessary to overcome the crisis.

* Investors were wary after Moody's warned on Monday it may slap a negative outlook on France's Aaa credit rating in the next three months . Moody's also downgraded Spain late in the NY session .

* No local data on either side of the Tasman, but Reserve Bank of Australia assistant governor Guy Debelle speaks on bank funding at 2225 GMT.

* RBA minutes for the last meeting showed the bank is less worried about domestic inflation, which could offer scope for a cut in rates if needed. It also has doubts about both the prospects for resolving the euro zone's debt problems and the outlook for global growth.

* Interbank futures imply a two-in-three chance of a 25 basis-point rate cut at the upcoming policy meeting on Nov. 1.

* Data suggested China, the world's second biggest economy and major trading partner for Australia and New Zealand, is on track for a soft landing. China's gross domestic product rose 9.1 percent in the third quarter from a year ago, moderating from 9.5 percent in the second quarter.

* Kiwi buoyed by dairy giant Fonterra's latest auction, with prices rising 1.7 percent, the first gain in four months.

* The Antipodeans claw back some of the previous day's losses against the yen, after they had fallen sharply from one-month highs. Aussie last around 78.75 yen from 78.39 yen. Kiwi edges up to 61.06 yen from 60.83 yen.

* Against the kiwi, the Aussie touches a three-month high of NZ$1.2931, but gives back much of its gains to last sit around NZ$1.2884.

* The New Zealand government debt a touch softer like US Treasuries, with local yields a tick higher along the curve.

* Australian debt futures mixed, with the three-year contract down 0.01 points to 96.160, while the 10-year eased 0.005 points to 95.500.