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Australia swings to surprise trade deficit
Australia's exports fell and imports rose in February, sending the nation's trade account to a surprise deficit, according to data Tuesday from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The trade deficit totaled 205 million Australian dollars ($212 million), compared to January's A$1.433 billion surplus, as exports fell a seasonally adjusted 2% during the month, and imports rose by 5%. Economists' expectations had called for a A$1.2 billion trade surplus, according to a survey reported by Dow Jones Newswires.