	national australia bank lowers benchmark prime national australia bank ltd naba s said it lowered its benchmark prime lending rate to pct from effective today but left its base rate at the benchmark reduction brings the rate into line with the prime rates of most of australia s trading banks including those of two of the other three major trading banks however the rate is above the pct the lowest ruling rate set by the other major the australia and new zealand banking group ltd anza s on friday and effective today the benchmark is based on short term  rate movements while the base rate is tied to longer term trends reuter 
