Aussie steady before RBA chief speaks; bonds ease

__________AUSTRALIAN CREDIT/FOREX (0130 GMT) SNAPSHOT__________ FOREIGN EXCHANGE (against previous Sydney close) 0.9085/88 (0.9022/25) 1.2616/29 (1.2511/33) 82.22/28 (81.49/56) 90.51/55 (90.34/37) 0.6122/25(0.6127/30) 1.4839/45 (1.4720/25) DEBT FUTURES CASH YIELDS 90-DAY BILL (DEC) 95.90 (-0.01) 3.62(3.60) 3-YR BOND (DEC) 94.97 (-0.02) 4.92(4.91) 10-YR BOND (DEC) 94.415(-0.02) 5.63(5.62) 3/10 SPREAD +0.555 (+0.545) AUST/US 10-YR SPREAD +211(+215) S&P/ASX 200 4511.7 (4540.1) US10-YR 3.52(3.47) ----------------------------Nov 5------------------------------

DATA: Australia's trade deficit widened to A$1.85 billion ($1.69 billion) in September, up from A$1.65 billion the previous month. Analysts had forecast a trade gap of A$2.1 billion. [ID:nSYU008999]

New vehicle sales in Australia rose for a second month in October and posted the first annual increase in over a year as demand steadily recovered from the global credit crisis. [ID:SYD467173] ---------------------------------------------------------------

* Aussie strong near 91 U.S. cents, helped by its high-yield appeal that was burnished once more after the Federal Reserve reiterated on Wednesday its commitment to keep U.S. interest rates at zero for an "extended period".

* At 3.50 percent, Australian rates are the highest among major economies. [ID:nGLOBAL]

* Investors now intent on a speech by Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Governor Glenn Stevens at 0655 GMT. Stevens will take questions and the market is keen for clues about whether the RBA will raise rates in December.

* The RBA also releases its Statement on Monetary Policy on Friday and is widely expected to revise up forecasts for economic growth and inflation.

* Aussie up on the yen at 82.33 yen , but has slipped under the 20-day moving average of 82.84. It had traded at 81.49 here late Wednesday.

* December interbank futures <0#YIB:> show investors see a 54 percent chance of a 25 basis point rate rise next month, slightly lower than earlier expectations after disappointing retail sales data on Wednesday.

* The next key data that would tip the case for a rate move is next week's employment figures, due on Nov. 12.

* Aussie bond futures stayed in the red after tracking losses in Treasuries earlier, ahead of next week's $81 billion Treasury auction.

* Three-year bond futures were down 0.03 points at 94.96. The 10-year contract shed 0.025 points at 94.41. (Reporting by Koh Gui Qing)