Economy to pick up Down Under

Economic growth is set to pick up in Australia and New Zealand following the increase in trade to neighbouring countries as the global economy recovers. Farm production is set to pick up in Australia, as are rural products in New Zealand, as demand for exports increases, while, on the domestic front, the property markets have been booming in both countries, although interest rate rises may cool the market. John Edwards, chief economist at HSBC, says: 'The most important consideration for the Australian economy has been that the drought has ended. It had dampened the export industry in ...