By Cecile Lefort and Charlotte Greenfield
SYDNEY/WELLINGTON, Aug 10 (Reuters) - The Australian dollar climbed to a three-month peak on Wednesday, while its New Zealand counterpart also powered up as investors seeking to escape negative interest rates in Europe and Japan poured money into higher yielding assets.
The Australian dollar AUD=D4 briefly popped above 77 U.S. cents for the first time since early May and was trading at $0.7696 at 0220 GMT. It has bounced nearly three cents since hitting a low in late July, despite falling domestic interest rates.
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) cut rates to an all-time low of 1.50 percent last week with markets 0#YIB: fully priced for another easing by October.
Meanwhile, markets are awaiting RBA Governor Glenn Stevens at 0305 GMT to deliver what is likely to be his final speech before passing on the reins to Deputy Governor Philip Lowe in September.
Much of the recent Aussie strength comes as investors borrow at low rates in yen, pounds or euros to buy higher-yielding assets such as the Aussie and kiwi, a popular strategy known as the carry trade.
Carry trade demand typically picks up in the months of July to August, known for their low volatility due to the summer holidays in the northern hemisphere.
Investors clearly favour Australian and New Zealand 10-year government bonds AU10YT=RR NZ10YT=RR , which fetch around 2 percent compared with the negative rates of Japan and Germany and near zero returns of most European sovereign bonds.
The pound dropped to a three-year low of A$1.6863 GBPAUD=R , down 16 percent so far this year, after the Bank of England flagged more quantitative easing should Britain's economic decline worsen.
The New Zealand dollar NZD=D4 rose to $0.7196 from $0.7161 in morning trading, as investors awaited the Reserve Bank of New Zealand's (RBNZ) rates decision on Thursday.
The RBNZ is expected to cut rates by 25 basis points to 2.00 percent, given persistently low inflation. Of 25 economists polled by Reuters, 24 expect a rate cut and only one said the central bank will remain on hold. rates by 25 basis points alone would not be enough to stem the buoyant kiwi, according to analysts, saying the bank would have to make it clear it envisaged cutting further.
New Zealand government bonds 0#NZTSY= gained, sending yields 6.5 basis points lower.
Australian government bond futures rose, with the three-year bond contract YTTc1 up 2 ticks at 98.620. The 10-year contract YTCc1 gained 4.5 ticks to 98.0900, while the 20-year contract YXXc1 was unchanged at 97.5465. (Editing by Sam Holmes)