Interest rates remain at record lows

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Reserve Bank Board meeting The Reserve Bank has left the cash rate at a record low of 1.50 per cent for the 21st straight month (19th meeting). The last rate change was a... Read more continue reading

Global macroeconomic commentary for the week ahead (week beginning 30 April 2018)

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Summary It has been a very positive earnings season in the US so far, although share price reaction during the week was mixed. Economic data released during the week was... Read more continue reading

Weekly market update – week ending 27 April, 2018

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Investment markets and key developments over the past week Shares were mixed over the last week – up in Europe, Japan and Australia but down slightly in the US and... Read more continue reading

CommSec State of the States – April 2018

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Overall Results How are Australia’s states and territories performing? Each quarter CommSec attempts to find out by analysing eight key indicators: economic growth; retail spending; business investment; unemployment; construction work... Read more continue reading

Yield curve signals danger ahead

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Bond yields have been moving higher since the start of 2018, with expectations of future Fed tightening and a gradual rise in inflation prompting investors to reassess long-term interest rates.... Read more continue reading

Higher import prices add to inflation risks

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Export & import prices Export & import prices: Import prices rose by 2.1 per cent in the March quarter and were up by 2.3 per cent on a year ago –... Read more continue reading

Victorian jobless rate at 6-year lows; Young people are back in the job market

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Labour force Employment rose by 4,900 in March after a 6,300 fall in jobs in February (previously reported as a rise of 17,500 jobs). Full-time jobs fell by 19,900 while part-time... Read more continue reading

Market Thinking: Trade War talk obscures a fundamental shift to a multi-polar world

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Trade relationships are having to be reset Trade tension is being blamed for what is essentially a ‘normal’ market correction. It is not irrelevant, but it is the new economy... Read more continue reading

Weekly market update – week ending 13 April, 2018

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Investment markets and key developments over the past week Share markets rebounded over the last week as while volatility remained high not helped by worries about a missile strike on... Read more continue reading

Construction boom: Too much work? Tassie consumer confidence at 7-year high

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Consumer sentiment; Building activity; China inflation  Consumer confidence: The Westpac/Melbourne Institute survey of consumer sentiment index fell by 0.6 per cent to 102.4 points in April, down from 103.0 points... Read more continue reading