51.   A lower Australian dollar also brings higher earnings for exporters by making Australian goods cheaper overseas.

52.   A small rise or a decline in imports in November likely will buoy bonds and the Australian dollar, said analysts.

53.   A stronger Australian dollar typically benefits bonds and other investments denominated in that currency.

54.   A slump in precious metal prices also weighed on the currency today, as traders sold metals along with Australian dollars, Stapleton said.

55.   A tumble in the currency in offshore trading tonight might lure the Reserve Bank in to buy Australian dollars, traders said.

56.   A U.S. rate increase would hurt the Australian currency by making deposits and bonds denominated in Australian dollars less attractive than those in U.S. dollars.

57.   Also helping the Australian dollar were comments by former Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Bernie Fraser, who said the RBA passed up a chance to cut interest rates.

58.   Also, interest rate cuts lessen the appeal of deposits and bonds denominated in the Australian dollar.

59.   Burns Philp blamed the poorer performance on a stronger Australian dollar, which adversely affected South American and North American earnings when translated into local dollars.

60.   Conversely, the high Australian dollar hurts exports by making them relatively more expensive.