Capex Preview – First estimate of 2015-16 spending is key

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Capex Preview – QIV 2014 The RBA’s latest downgrade to growth forecasts were based on a more negative outlook for non‑mining capex.  In this context, the first estimate of 2015‑16... Read more continue reading

Weekly market update – week ending 20 February, 2015

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Investment markets and key developments over the past week While US and Australian shares were little changed over the last week, other markets managed good gains. Eurozone shares were helped... Read more continue reading

Economy-wide spending continues to slow

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Commonwealth Bank Business Sales Index Growth of economy-wide spending eased further in January. The Commonwealth Bank Business Sales Indicator (BSI) – a measure of economy-wide spending – rose by 0.2... Read more continue reading

Labor markets in 2014: a year like few others

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Strong and broad-based labor market gains in 2014 clearly indicate a significant change in the economic cycle and strong momentum into 2015. Policymakers have been waiting for a substantial turn... Read more continue reading

Weekly market update – week ending 13 February, 2015

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Investment markets and key developments over the past week Shares generally saw good gains over the last week thanks to a combination of optimism regarding Greece, a new Ukraine ceasefire... Read more continue reading

Australian unemployment at its highest since 2002 = more rate cuts on the way

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Australian jobs growth back to earth in January After three months of unbelievably strong jobs growth (101,000 new jobs were created between September and December last year), employment fell back... Read more continue reading

Weekly market update – week ending 6 February, 2015

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Investment markets and key developments over the past week Shares generally rose over the past week with gains helped by better US earnings reports, a further gain in the oil... Read more continue reading

Electronic retailers record strongest growth in 7yrs

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Retail Trade; New Home Sales Retail trade grew: Sales rose for the seventh straight month, up by 0.2 per cent in December after rising by 0.1 per cent in November.... Read more continue reading

Retail spending disappoints over December

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Retail trade rose by a soft 0.2% in December.  Annual growth has come down to 4.1% The volume of retail spending still remains high.  In volume terms, retail trade increased... Read more continue reading

Australian interest rates still on the slide

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Introduction Ever since commodity prices and the mining investment boom peaked 3 or 4 years ago there has been a constant chorus of doom regarding the Australian economy: the reversal... Read more continue reading