21. AUSTRALIAN stocks fell after a report showing wages grew at a surprisingly fast pace in the February quarter quashed expectations the central bank may soon cut interest rates. 22. Australian equities also fell after the Dow Jones Industrial Average, a benchmark for world stocks, dropped ahead of the Labor Day holiday in the U.S. 23. Automakers also fell after a poor earnings report by Hino Motors Ltd. 24. Bank issues fell after reaching new highs this month. 25. Bankers and government officials are united in their expectation that inflation will begin to fall after a series of scheduled wage and price increases in April. 26. Banks such as HSBC Holdings Plc and Hang Seng Bank Ltd. fell after leading benchmark shares higher Monday. 27. Bank shares rallied, spurred by bond yields which fell after the economic reports. 28. Banking shares, including American depositary receipts of Banco BHIF SA, fell after banking regulators said Chilean bank profits fell during the first two months of the year. 29. Banks and utilities fell after the unemployment rate slid to its lowest in seven years, which raised expectations the Bank of Canada may raise interest rates. 30. Australian stocks fell after two days of gains as resource companies such as Broken Hill Proprietary Co. dropped amid concern declining metal prices will reduce earnings. |