INVESTORS WATCH STOCK PRICES AT AUSTRALIAN STOCK EXCHANGE IN SYDNEY, 2000-08-30 (photo)

Investors watch the stock price movements on huge screens at the Australian Stock Exchange in Sydney August 30, 2000. The Australian share market was dragged to a lower close today by investors disspointed with the latest swag of corporate earnings, with communications giant Telstra posting a A$4.04 billion (US$2.3 billion) annual net profit resulting in a 12 cent markdown in it's share price, and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, one of Australia's big four banks, falling 76 cents after releasing an outlook that predicted flatter profit growth referring to the impact of the soft Australian dollar. DG/DL