March 19 (Reuters) - AUSTRALIAN PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY:
* AUSTRALIAN PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY (APRA) SAYS ANNOUNCED TEMPORARY CHANGES TO ITS EXPECTATIONS REGARDING BANK CAPITAL RATIOS
* APRA SAYS TEMPORARY CHANGES ARE TO ENSURE BANKS WELL POSITIONED TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE CREDIT TO THE ECONOMY IN CURRENT CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENT
* APRA - ADVISING ALL BANKS THAT GIVEN COVID-19 SITUATION, IT EXPECTS THEY MAY NEED TO UTILISE SOME CURRENT LARGE BUFFERS TO FACILITATE ONGOING LENDING
* APRA - PROVIDED BANKS ABLE TO MEET MINIMUM CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS, APRA NOT CONCERNED IF BANKS NOT MEETING ADDITIONAL BENCHMARKS ANNOUNCED IN 2016