By Wayne Cole
SYDNEY, July 16 (Reuters) - The Australian and New Zealand dollars stayed firm on Tuesday as market priced in aggressive cuts in U.S. interest rates, even as events at home suggested domestic policy would likely be eased again in coming months.
The Aussie dollar AUD=D3 held at $0.7036, having earlier tested major chart resistance at $0.7048. A break there would take it to ground not trod since the start of May and set up a challenge of the next chart barrier at $0.7069.
The kiwi NZD=D3 edged up to $0.6734, just a whisker from its June top of $0.6737. A breach would see it reach three-month highs with the next target at $0.6782.
The currency was aided when domestic inflation figures came in much as expected, dodging the risk of a downside surprise.
Consumer prices rose 0.6% in the June quarter, from the previous quarter, nudging annual inflation up to 1.7% from 1.5%.
However, half of the pick up was due to rising petrol prices, which had since levelled off, and inflation was subdued elsewhere. a result, investors continued to wager the Reserve Bank of New Zealand would cut rates at its next policy meeting on Aug. 7 RBNZWATCH , particularly as the Fed was expected to ease a few days earlier.
"Low global inflation and competitive pressures continue to hold down prices for imported goods," said Westpac senior economist Michael Gordon.
"Concerns about slowing domestic growth and the uncertain global environment meant that the RBNZ had already judged that a further OCR cut was "likely"," he added. "Today's report will do nothing to change that stance."
Minutes of the Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) July meeting showed it also stood ready to ease again "if needed" to support employment and economic growth. bank cut its rates to a record low of 1% early this month and futures markets 0#YIB: are fully priced for another move to 0.75% by early next year.
"Downside risks to the economy are continuing, including soft consumer spending, a deterioration in business conditions and a more uncertain global outlook," said Janu Chan, a senior economist at St. George Bank.
"The RBA is therefore expected to pull the rate cut trigger once again. We continue to favour the timing of such a move in November, but cannot rule out the RBA moving earlier."
Bonds remain priced for an easing with yields on three-year paper AU3YT=RR down at 0.958% and under the cash rate. The 10-year futures contract YTCc1 firmed 6.5 ticks on Tuesday to 98.6050, implying an yield of 1.395%.
New Zealand's two-year yields NZ2YT=RR dipped back to 1.175%, from a top of 1.22% on Monday. (Editing by Shri Navaratnam)