By Wayne Cole and Charlotte Greenfield
SYDNEY/WELLINGTON, Oct 3 (Reuters) - The Australian dollar slipped to three-month lows on Tuesday after the country's central bank held rates steady as expected and cautioned that a higher currency would drag on the economy and inflation.
The Aussie AUD=D4 was down 0.4 percent at $0.7793 against a broadly firmer U.S. dollar and testing chart support in the $0.7786/7795 zone.
The Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) decision to keep rates at 1.5 percent was far from a surprise given Governor Philip Lowe recently stated it would be "some time" before a hike was likely.
Lowe's statement from Tuesday's October policy meeting maintained the same relaxed tone, noting inflation remained low and unemployment would decline only gradually despite recent strong jobs growth.
Markets are not fully priced for a rate rise until August next year 0#YIB: , a contrast with the U.S. Federal Reserve which continues to flag a possible hike in December this year.
As a result the premium offered by Australian bonds has been shrinking, with two-year yields AU2YT=RR now 48 basis points over U.S. debt compared with 60 basis points a couple of weeks ago.
"The dip in the Aussie after the statement might reflect the large overhang of long speculative positioning, with some accounts hoping for a more hawkish note," said Sean Callow, a senior currency strategist at Westpac.
"If the U.S. dollar continues to find yield support, AUD/USD could ease towards $0.7750/60."
The New Zealand dollar NZD=D4 eased to $0.7165, from $0.7195, after a survey showed the recent hotly contested, and inconclusive, election had weighed on business confidence. vote left a populist maverick figure as kingmaker ahead of the final tally on Saturday. NZD/USD is oscillating around the $0.72 level and the NZD is range-trading against the other crosses. That looks the story into year-end," said Cameron Bagrie, chief economist at ANZ Bank.
Investors would keep an eye on a global auction for dairy, the country's main goods export earner, in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
New Zealand government bonds 0#NZTSY= gained, sending yields 2 basis points lower at the long end of the curve.
Australian government bond futures also edged higher, with the three-year bond contract YTTc1 up 1 tick at 97.800. The 10-year contract YTCc1 rose 2 ticks to 97.1200. (Editing by Kim Coghill)