Alongside the release of the ANZ Roy......>

AUSTRALIA: Alongside the release of the ANZ Roy Morgan Weekly Consumer

Confidence Index ANZ noted that "confidence strengthened further last week,

albeit modestly. While still below average, sentiment has recovered strongly

from its March low and is now only around 15% below its level at the end of

February. Government measures and signs that the job market is stabilising seem

to be playing a key part in the recovery of the index despite recent concerns

over trade with China and weak retail sales. These factors, and the move in

Australia's credit rating to a negative outlook by Fitch, may explain why

expectations about the 'future economic outlook' fell."