A WOMAN READS CURRENCY INFORMATION IN MELBOURNE, 1998-06-04 (photo)

A woman stops to read foreign exchange rates displayed by international currency dealer Thomas Cook in central Melbourne June 4. The Australian dollar overnight fell to a 12-year low of US$0.6083, the currency tracking the Japanese Yen lower as international traders looked for a way to sell Asia in the wake of the region's economic downturn. Japan is Australia's biggest export market and both countries are very exposed to Asia. Adding to the unit's woes are weaker commodity prices which make up about 50 percent of Australian exports. Investment markets also expect Australia's economy to start to slow later this year as the full impact of the Asian downturn hits the country which could trigger interest rate cuts. WB/TAN