Budget 2013 – honey, who ate the surplus?

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The Federal Budget is hardly the most riveting document you are ever likely to read. Sure you know it’s important, but the problem is that it’s a huge document with... Read more continue reading

Home loans soar but business confidence still gloomy

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The number of new owner-occupier housing loans rose by 5.2 per cent in March, the strongest rise in four years. But the share of loans taken up by first home... Read more continue reading

15 key takeouts from RBA report

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The Reserve Bank has made only subtle changes to its forecasts on inflation and no change to forecasts on economic growth. Reserve Bank general views haven’t become more negative or... Read more continue reading

Weekly economic & market update

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Share markets continued to move ahead over the past week helped by a combination of reasonable profit results, a further fading of the fiscal austerity fetish in Europe with France... Read more continue reading

Oliver’s Insights – Interest rates still falling, more to go

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This edition of Oliver’s Insights looks at the RBA’s latest cut to interest rates. The key points are as follows: The RBA has cut interest rates again and they are likely... Read more continue reading

Interest rates hit 53 year lows

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The Reserve Bank Board has cut interest rates by 25 basis points to 2.75 per cent. Equivalent official interest rates were last at these levels in 1959/60.The next RBA Board... Read more continue reading

The Australian dollar – the best is behind it

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The attached edition of Oliver’s Insights takes a look at the outlook for the Australian dollar. The key points are as follows: After doubling in value against the $US over the last... Read more continue reading

CommSec Investor Snapshot: Interest rates are low, but how low?

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Reserve Bank Board makes its decision today: Most economists expect no change in interest rates. How low are interest rates? Currently the official cash rate stands at 3.00 per cent... Read more continue reading

One-minute update: subdued business inflation paves way for a rate cut

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The broad measure of business inflation – the producer price index (PPI), or final stage prices, – rose by 0.3 per cent in the March quarter to stand 1.6 per... Read more continue reading

Weekly economic and market update

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Despite concerns about slowing global business conditions PMIs, share markets continued to surge over the past week with much better than expected US jobs data providing an additional push to... Read more continue reading