We have, as usual, closely monitored events abroad and at home on a continuous basis. We have had better economic data in Australia lately than observed in the United States or Europe. The weakness of global conditions in the short term will affect Australia, as we said in our statement announcing an easing of policy just two weeks ago.
Efforts were made to restrict loans extended to highly energy-consuming and highly polluting industries and industries with overcapacity. Credit support was increased to some key areas, such as agriculture, rural areas and farmers, postdisaster reconstruction, small enterprises, the services industry and independent innovation, energy-conservation and environment protection projects, and credit line to small- and medium-sized enterprises was raised.