MNI ANALYSIS: Australia Trade In..........>

AUSTRALIA: MNI ANALYSIS: Australia Trade In Surplus For 7 Straight Months

- Australia's trade balance continued its surplus spree, posting a

higher-than-expected surplus in July, though a fall in exports and flat imports

meant the positive balance narrowed compared with the month before. The data

points to a solid start for the third quarter after the second quarter saw a net

export contribution of 0.1 percentage point to GDP. Data published by the

Australian Bureau of Statistics Thursday showed the trade balance recorded a

surplus of A$1.55 billion in July, higher than MNI median forecast for A$1.4

billion. The surplus for June was revised higher to A$1.94 billion from initial

reported A$1.87 billion.

- For full story see MNI Main Wire at 02:51 BST 09/06, or contact us for access.