Flood of global liquidity depresses Australian yields

Sydney

WITH sound finances, robust banks and buoyant Chinese demand for its commodities, the returns that made Australia a magnet for investors are buckling under the weight of negative yields elsewhere.

Foreign funds have poured money into Australia, the only advanced economy to avoid recession after the global crisis, drawn to its booming services sector, agricultural and mineral resources and relatively high interest rates - so much so that they threatened its competitiveness by keeping the local dollar too strong.