/VIEWS: Bank desk views ahead of..........>

AUSTRALIA: /VIEWS: Bank desk views ahead of today's Q1 GDP release:

- ANZ: After the release of key partial indicators this week, we expect Q1 GDP

to have risen a strong 0.9% q/q. Once again, the household consumption and wages

numbers will be a key focus in the GDP report.

- CBA: GDP should expand by robust 1% in Q1. Net exports should make a solid

contribution to growth along with government spending, while household

consumption growth is likely to be modest. Annual growth should be around 2.9%. 

- Westpac: We forecast a 1.1% increase with this week's partials on inventories,

profits and public demand coming in stronger than expected and offsetting the

undershoot in net exports. The forecast for consumer spending is +0.6% down from

a +1.0% outcome in Q4.

- MNI consensus looks for +0.85% Q/Q.