The Australian dollar held above $0.71 near a ten-week high as a broadly weaker U.S. dollar and firmer domestic sentiment supported the currency. The greenback came under pressure after softer-than-expected U.S. economic data led traders to trim expectations for further Federal Reserve rate hikes, adding to concerns about U.S. growth and eroding the dollar’s yield support. In Australia, the Reserve Bank of Australia kept its cash rate unchanged at 4.35% after three hikes earlier in the year, while consumer confidence rose to a nine-month high in August, reinforcing expectations of economic resilience. Markets are now watching Thursday’s jobs report, with employment forecast to rise by 15,000 in July after a 76,300 increase in June and the unemployment rate seen holding at 4.4%. Quarterly wages data are due on Wednesday, and RBA Deputy Governor Andrew Hauser is also scheduled to speak.