-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, O1I1tykSMY1wlkubZ4W8mZ3ptEBaP5/fcXcZRYop0XVq1guRpZvk5eEC/spe0KEV TgS39S4i5rv2KzEdZZ2oiw== <SEC-DOCUMENT>0000894579-99-000098.txt : 19990412 <SEC-HEADER>0000894579-99-000098.hdr.sgml : 19990412 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000894579-99-000098 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: DEFA14A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 FILED AS OF DATE: 19990409 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: FIRST AUSTRALIA FUND INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000779336 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: UNKNOWN SIC - 0000 [0000] IRS NUMBER: 133304681 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MD FISCAL YEAR END: 1031 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: DEFA14A SEC ACT: SEC FILE NUMBER: 811-04438 FILM NUMBER: 99590536 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 100 MUDBERRY STREET CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NJ ZIP: 07102-4077 BUSINESS PHONE: 2122141250 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 100 MUDBERRY STREET CITY: NEWARK STATE: NJ ZIP: 07102-4077 </SEC-HEADER> <DOCUMENT> <TYPE>DEFA14A <SEQUENCE>1 <DESCRIPTION>ADDITIONAL PROXY SOLICITING MATERIALS-DEFINITIVE <TEXT> SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. ) Filed by the Registrant /x/ Filed by a Party other than the Registrant / / Check the appropriate box: / / Preliminary Proxy Statement / / Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) / / Definitive Proxy Statement /x/ Definitive Additional Materials / / Soliciting Material Pursuant to ss.240.14a-11(c) or ss.240.14a-12 THE FIRST AUSTRALIA FUND, INC. ------------------------------ (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): /x/ No fee required. / / Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: (5) Total fee paid: / / Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. / / Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. (1) Amount Previously Paid: (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: (3) Filing Party: (4) Date Filed: <PAGE> [LOGO] [GRAPHIC OMITTED] THIS WEEK IN AUSTRALIA ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Week ending April 9, 1999 EQUITILINK INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT ........................................ ECONOMIC NEWS o "Our Economy Still Shining", The Sydney Morning Herald, Thursday April 8, 1999, page 23. o The National Australia Bank business conditions index remained at very strong levels in the March quarter, suggesting annual non-farm GDP growth would hold around 4.5%. o Employment fell slightly in March after a strong rise in February. Despite this, the unemployment rate remained steady at 7.4%. o Building Approvals increased by 5.1% in seasonally adjusted terms in February. o The February goods and services trade deficit was above market expectations at A$1.517 Bn seasonally adjusted. o Retail trade fell slightly in February seasonally adjusted, but was better than expected. CORPORATE NEWS o Brambles Industries Ltd. has been given a strong "BUY" recommendation from a leading Australian stockbroker. While increased competition in the Chep pallet rental business may lead to some deterioration of margins, the stockbroker considers this inconsequential. o ANZ Banking Group Ltd. is reported to have entered talks with the leading Australian online broking firm E*Trade Australian Group with the aim to forge an alliance allowing ANZ to take advantage of the Internet boom. o Lend Lease Corporation Ltd. announced a 2.7 million share buy-back. o Telstra Corporation Ltd.'s further privitisation is still being considered in Parliament. o News Corporation Ltd. rallied strongly after Liberty Media Group, the cable TV programming company, announced that it will acquire an 8% stake in News valued at about $2.1 Bn. MARKETS o The Australian stockmarket rallied this week, with the ASX All Ordinaries Index closing above 3000. o The Australian dollar depreciated due to the weaker employment figures and some softness in commodity prices. o Australian bonds yields declined along with US treasury yields. <TABLE> <CAPTION> <S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | % | Current | 1 Week | 1 month | 3 months | 6 months | 1 Year | | ASX All Ordinaries | 3065 | 2973 +3.1% | 2930 +4.6% | 2856 +7.3% | 2503 +22.5% | 2814 +8.9% | | ASX All Industrials | 5517 | 5347 +3.2% | 5303 +4.0% | 5173 +6.6% | 4346 +26.9% | 4852 +13.7% | | ASX All Resources | 1038 | 1034 +0.4% | 979 +6.0% | 951 +9.1% | 1027 +1.1% | 1183 -12.3% | | Australian Dollar | 0.6265 | 0.6344 -1.2% | 0.6316 -0.8% | 0.6338 -1.2% | 0.6143 +2.0% | 0.6623 -5.4% | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- </TABLE> OUTLOOK o The Australian dollar is expected to be supported by stronger global industrial production, which should also see resource stock prices increase. o As the Australian economy continues to grow strongly, with low inflation, the economic fundamentals for the Australian stockmarket remain positive. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The discussion of economic and market news is based on information believed to be accurate, but EquitiLink does not give any warranty in relation to the accuracy or reliability of such information. That discussion, as well as the discussion of outlook, which represents the views of EquitiLink, is subject to change as market and economic events unfold. </TEXT> </DOCUMENT> </SEC-DOCUMENT> -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----