Alongside the release of the weekly.......>

AUSTRALIA: Alongside the release of the weekly ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian

Consumer Confidence Index reading, ANZ noted that "confidence declined further

last week, building on the falls seen over the previous two weeks. Consumer

confidence is now down some 6% from its level in mid-June as it recovered from

the historic low seen at the end of March. The deteriorating conditions in

Melbourne and the renewed lockdown are most likely the primary contributor to

the turn in sentiment. The biggest fall has been in 'current economic'

conditions, which are down around 15% over this period. In contrast, sentiment

toward personal finances is close to unchanged, highlighting the role that the

massive fiscal stimulus has played in shielding people from the direct fall-out

of the economic slump triggered by the health response to the pandemic. How this

fiscal support will evolve over the months ahead is the most critical decision

facing the Government and the economy."