SYDNEY: The Australian and New Zealand dollars were under pressure on Thursday as a bout of global risk aversion hit equities and lowered bond yields, while a further lockdown in Sydney challenged the domestic economic outlook. The Aussie slipped 0.3% to $0.7462 and was a long way from the week's top of $0.7599. It was now threatening the recent seven-month low of $0.7445 and a break would risk a much deeper retreat to $0.7350 and lower.

The kiwi dollar dropped 0.4% to $0.6989 and further away from the peak of $0.7104 hit early in the week. Support lies at $0.6947 and the recent trough of $0.6923. Australian three-year bond yields down to 0.379%, from a top of 0.489% early in the week.