* Jump in consumer confidence, rise in AUD/NZD support Aussie     * Eyes on China data at 0530 GMT      By Cecile Lefort and Naomi Tajitsu     SYDNEY/WELLINGTON, Aug 13 (Reuters) - The Australian dollar was a touch firmer on Wednesday, but the New Zealand dollar struggled for traction with geopolitical tensions still casting a shadow on global growth.      The Australian dollar  
   AUD=D4
    edged up to $0.9280, from $0.9267 in early trade, slowly pulling away from a two-month low of $0.9239 reached last week.     Underpinning the Aussie was a jump in Australia's consumer confidence in August, a day after a survey showed a sharp improvement in business conditions.  
   ID:nS9N0M301E
        "There is a little more positivity in the Australian economy," said Sean Callow, a strategist at Westpac, adding that buying against the New Zealand dollar was providing support.     The Australian dollar gained 0.3 percent against the kiwi dollar to NZ$1.1011  
   AUDNZD=R
   , nearing a recent peak of NZ$1.1052.     "It could be a very compelling trade if we get a rate cut off the table by the Reserve Bank of Australia, and if the Reserve Bank of New Zealand doesn't hike," he said, seeing the Aussie potentially climbing to NZ$1.1200.     In Asia, the focus is on a series of Chinese economic data due at 0530 GMT, including industrial production and retail sales for July.  
   ECONCN
         The Antipodean currencies are sensitive to news out of China, a key export market.     The New Zealand dollar  
   NZD=D4
    eased to $0.8420, having fallen to $0.8407 in offshore trade, after data showed a further fall in domestic house prices.     The kiwi has retreated from a near three-year high of $0.8839 hit last month, dogged by expectations of a slowdown in the pace of New Zealand interest rate rises and a tumble in global dairy prices.     Traders said that bids towards $0.8400 had created a double bottom around that level, which had also provided support during a sell-off in June. Some said an expected rise in domestic retail sales data due on Thursday could support the currency.     Others said a further slide in global prices for dairy, New Zealand's biggest export earner, at an auction next week could be the catalyst to bump the kiwi below $0.8400.     "The kiwi should hold around $0.8375-$0.8400 for now. If we get another bad dairy auction next week, I would sell it again," said Tim Kelleher, head of institutional sales at ASB.     "Sentiment is certainly turning on the currency. The market is not as enamoured with the kiwi as it had been."     New Zealand government bonds  
   0#NZTSY=
    edged lower, nudging yields around a basis point higher across the curve.     Australian government bond futures retreated further from recent highs. The three-year bond contract  
   YTTc1
    eased 3 ticks at 97.350. The 10-year contract  
   YTCc1
    fell 4 ticks to 96.550, having touched a 14-month peak Monday.    (Editing by Richard Borsuk)  ((Cecile.Lefort@thomsonreuters.com)(+61 2 9373-1234)(Reuters Messaging: cecile.lefort.thomsonreuters@reuters.net))  Keywords: MARKETS AUSTRALIA/FOREX