Reserve Bank holds fire… for now

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The Reserve Bank Board has left the official cash rate at 3.50 per cent for the third straight month. The variable housing rate is applying modest stimulus to the economy... Read more continue reading

Barrage of economic data

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There is a barrage of economic data coming out… Retail trade: Retail spending fell by a surprising 0.8 per cent in July after lifting by 1.2 per cent in June.... Read more continue reading

Weekly economic & market update

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Share markets fell further over the past week on the back of global growth worries and in nervous trade ahead of Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke’s address in Jackson Hole, before... Read more continue reading

Weakest lift in investment plans in 19 years

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New business investment rose by 3.4 per cent in the June quarter, in line with forecasts. Spending on buildings rose by 4.8 per cent in the quarter while spending on... Read more continue reading

Profit squeeze but companies ride out storm

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There are three days left in the profit-reporting season. CommSec has assessed the results of 114 companies from the ASX 200 index that have reported full-year results to June 2012... Read more continue reading

Home sales slump to near 11-year low

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New homes sales fell by 5.6 per cent in July, wiping out all the gains recorded over the previous five months. Sales stand at the second lowest level in 11... Read more continue reading

Economic nirvana achieved!

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Reserve Bank Governor Testimony The Reserve Bank Governor has delivered testimony to the House of Representatives Economics Committee. The Governor says that the economy is growing close to trend or... Read more continue reading

Weekly economic & market update

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After solid gains in share markets since early June shares are a bit overbought and vulnerable to a correction as we head into the seasonally weak period around September. This... Read more continue reading

Perspectives on China

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There is a long way to go in China’s industrialisation. Effectively China is at the same point that Japan was at in 1968 or at a similar point to where... Read more continue reading

Reserve Bank happy to sit on the sidelines

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The Reserve Bank has released minutes of the Board meeting held on August 7. Overall it is clear that the Reserve Bank is currently happy with interest rate settings. Inflation... Read more continue reading