Weekly market & economic update

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The European Central Bank’s (ECB) first monetary policy meeting for 2012 saw no significant changes with interest rates staying on hold at 1.0%. There were some notable comments on Europe’s... Read more continue reading

Job vacancies slide to 18-month lows

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Job vacancies fell by 3.3 per cent in the December quarter (November reference month) to 181,000 vacancies – marking the lowest result in 18 months. Across the sectors the bulk... Read more continue reading

Slower Chinese imports points to stimulus

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China’s trade surplus expanded from $14.5 billion to $16.5 billion in December, well above forecasts centred on an $8.78 billion surplus. Imports slower than expected: Exports rose 13.4 per cent... Read more continue reading

2011 year in review…Europe, politics and natural disasters

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The year 2011 will be remembered for the European Debt Crisis and a spate of natural disasters. Asian economies generally held firm but so-called “advanced nations” continued to struggle. In... Read more continue reading

Weekly economic & market update

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Europe’s debt debacle has continued into 2012 with mixed responses in global share markets this week. For the year’s opening, European shares have ranged between the “robust” with German shares... Read more continue reading

RBA: Global growth risks outweigh investment boom

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Downside risks to global economy prompted Reserve Bank to cut interest rates and minutes of the last Reserve Bank Board meeting confirm that policymakers were concerned about the strength of... Read more continue reading

The outlook for China

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Fidelity Worldwide Investment’s portfolio managers with an interest in China expect further easing in the country’s monetary policy, driven by Beijing’s need to inject more liquidity as money supply and... Read more continue reading

Weekly economic and market update

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The past week has seen the usual post summit let down in Europe with general scepticism regarding whether the latest EU summit will achieve much in terms of stabilising Europe’s... Read more continue reading

Is inflation peaking & what does it mean for investors?

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Banking crises are generally followed by sovereign debt crises and these tend to be followed by increasing inflation. Last month’s auction of German bonds failed to attract enough buyers and... Read more continue reading

The big issues for 2012

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Murphy’s Law states: Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong. And clearly 2011 could be best described as the year when Murphy’s Law reigned. First there were significant floods across... Read more continue reading