* Sterling at lowest in nearly 10 months vs AUD

* Specs increase AUD net longs vs USD

* Carry trades underpin Aussie vs euro & yen

* NZD off February lows vs USD...for now

By Cecile Lefort and Naomi Tajitsu

WELLINGTON/SYDNEY, Sept 8 (Reuters) - The Australian and New Zealand dollars leapt to multi-month highs against a depressed pound on Monday, while the feisty Aussie stood firm versus its U.S. counterpart thanks to carry trade demand.

Sterling took the spotlight after a poll showed rising support for Scottish independence. It plunged as far as A$1.7257 GBPAUD=R , its lowest since November to be last at A$1.7316. It has skidded more than 5 cents in just five sessions with charts looking bearish.

The 5, 10 and 20-day moving averages point south, though there is strong support seen at A$1.7046 ahead of A$1.6985.

The New Zealand dollar GBPNZD=R jumped to around NZ$1.9410 against sterling, its highest in nearly two months to be last at NZ$1.9480.

Sterling had already been under pressure, but it was dealt another blow after a weekend opinion poll showed supporters of Scottish independence from Britain taking the lead for the first time.

Against the U.S. dollar, the Aussie AUD=D4 stood near a six-week peak at $0.9373, having met heavy resistance above $0.9400 cents.

"The Aussie above 94 cents is not sustainable with lots of sellers at that level," a Singapore-based trader at a European bank said.

"We could see an attack on 94 cents if Thursday's jobs number is good, but it would have to be a really strong set of numbers to have the Aussie above that level," he added. ECONAU

Data out Monday showed job advertisements in newspapers and on the Internet rose for a third straight month in August to hit a 17-month high, offering hope that a recent spike in unemployment might prove temporary. ID:nS9N0M301R

The Aussie has defied recent U.S. dollar strength and a sharp decline in prices of iron ore, Australia's top export earner, in large part due to renewed carry trade demand. Investors are borrowing at low rates in euros and yen to buy higher-yielding Aussie assets.

Data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission showed contracts in Australian dollar net long positions climbed to 49,000 in the week of Sept 2, from nearly 42,000 the week before. ID:nL1N0R623G

The Aussie held near its highest in over a year against the euro and yen AUDJPY=R EURAUD=R .

Data out of China, Australia's top export market, showed the nation's trade balance surprisingly expanding to $49 billion, from $47.3 billion previously. ECONCN

The New Zealand dollar bounced to $0.8318, having touched a six-1/2-month low of $0.8270 Friday.

Market participants, however, saw the risk of more selling after a policy review by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) later this week.

The RBNZ is widely seen as keeping rates unchanged at 3.5 percent on Thursday, following a series of hikes since March. Many see the central bank signalling less inflation risk given signs that strong economic growth is slowing as global dairy prices slide.

"We expect the Bank to strike a less hawkish tone, while attempting to convince investors it remains committed to normalising the overnight cash rate. This should keep downward pressure on the New Zealand dollar," BNZ analysts said in a note.

Many in the market believe increased speculation that rates will stay on hold until early next year could knock the kiwi lower, taking it into the mid-$0.8200 region. Technical support lay at $0.8242, a low hit in February.

New Zealand government bonds 0#NZTSY= were little changed on the day.

Australian government bond futures rose. The three-year bond contract YTTc1 gained 1 tick to 97.280, having bounced from its lowest since late June. The 10-year contract YTCc1 added 2 ticks to 96.565.

(Editing by Eric Meijer) ((Cecile.Lefort@thomsonreuters.com)(+61 2 9373-1234)(Reuters Messaging: cecile.lefort.thomsonreuters@reuters.net))

Keywords: MARKETS AUSTRALIA/FOREX