Garden Gnomes Found on Bank Steps

Pranksters deposited about 150 garden gnomes on the steps of Australias central bank today before the banks board was to gather for its monthly policy-making meeting.The boards meetings are closely watched for any hint of amove in official interest rates.But today, Sydney residents were more interested in whowas behind the gnome planting than any rate rise.We think the gnomes may have been the victims of a studentprank, Sydney police spokesman Paul Jackson told Reuters.Local media has reported several recent cases ofgnome-napping.Stuck on the StepsSydney City Council spokesman Craig Middleton said streetcleaners discovered the gnomes before dawn but the littleplaster statues, fixed to the steps with a building adhesive,refused to budge until confronted with the professional cleaningequipment.The gnomes were hauled into custody at the Sydney CityCouncils depot.They are now in gnome-man land and weve had loads ofcalls claiming them, Middleton told Reuters.But with them all wearing red hats, white beards and greentrousers it is hard to tell who belongs to who.Most economists do not expect a further move in monetarypolicy and the earliest announcement on the fate of interestrates was not expected till Wednesday.