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Investments

Australian economic downturn 'shallower', rates will rise, Stevens say

Sunday 16th of August 2009

"On the basis of the information to hand at present, this may well turn out to be one of the shallower recessions Australia has experienced," Stevens said in a speech posted on the Reserve Bank's website. "There will come a time when the exceptional monetary stimulus in place at present will no longer be needed," he said.

The federal government plans to spend some A$34 billion to soften the impact of the downturn on households and develop infrastructure projects. The central bank has cut its benchmark rate from 7.25% since September.

Government bond yield rose after Stevens' upbeat address, with the yield on five-year debt climbing 7 basis points to 5.46%. One-year notes jumped about 10 basis points to 3.92% as traders bet the overnight cash rate will be increased from a 49-year low of 3% as soon as this year.

Stevens said the economy probably expanded in the second quarter after avoiding falling into recession in the first three months of the year, when GDP expanded 0.4%.

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