Aussie hits 15-mth high as Bernanke remarks slug US$

--------------(Snapshot at 8:10 a.m./2110 GMT)----------------- FOREX (vs Late Sydney) DEBT FUTURES (Night Session) 0.9371 (0.9348) 90-DAY (DEC) 95.86 (95.86) 0.6257 (0.6246) 3-YR (DEC) 94.94 (94.88) 83.49 (83.73) 10-YR (DEC) 94.46 (94.40) 1.2502 (1.2563) US10-YR 3.35 (3.42) --------------------------------------------------------------- AU$S/Term range *Support *Resistance *RSI-14 *MA-10 *MA-20 *0.9100/9450 *0.9320 *0.9400 *69.42 *0.9225 *0.9186 ----------------------------(Nov 17)--------------------------- * Australian dollar offshore range $0.9320-0.9407. * Aussie retreats after hitting a new 15-month high of $0.9407, helped by an ailing U.S. dollar. The U.S. dollar got slugged after investors decided comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke signalled U.S. rates will stay at zero for some time. * In a rare commentary about the U.S. dollar, Bernanke said the Fed was closely watching the currency's decline as part of its commitment to both jobs growth and price stability. * The remarks initially took investors by surprise as the Fed rarely talks about the U.S. dollar, giving the currency a short-term boost. But investors quickly reversed the move after they decided the comments did not change the Fed's policy stance. * Aussie steady at $0.9371, after rising as far as $0.9407, and up from Monday's $0.9348. It was softer on the yen at 83.52, compared to Monday's 83.73. * It hit a new 21-month against the euro, rising as far as 0.6270 euros, from Monday's 0.6246. * Investors awaiting the minutes for the Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) last policy meeting on Nov. 3, due at 0030 GMT. The minutes will be scrutinised by investors for clues about the RBA's next policy move. * The RBA has recently sounded very bullish about Australia's long-term economic prospects. If that is reflected in Tuesday's minutes, it will heighten speculation the RBA will raise rates by 25 basis points in December. * Implied money market rates show investors betting on a 76 percent chance of a 25-basis-point rate rise next month. * A weak U.S. dollar pushed gold prices to a record high and pushed oil prices up 3 percent.. U.S. stocks also rose as equity investors took comfort in the fact that borrowing costs should stay low for some time. * Aussie bond futures were indicated higher, tracking gains in U.S. Treasuries. * Three-year bond futures indicated up 0.04 points at 94.94 and the 10-year contract was indicated 0.055 points higher at 94.46. (Reporting by Koh Gui Qing) (([e-mail]; Reuters Messaging; [e-mail]; [phone])) Keywords: MARKETS AUSTRALIA BONDS/FOREX (If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to [e-mail]) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved.

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