Spending slumps; Trade surplus with China soars

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Retail trade, International trade Retail spending slumped by 1.1 per cent in October, below forecasts centred on a rise of 0.4 per cent. Nonfood retailing fell by a much larger... Read more continue reading

Investor Signposts Week Beginning December 5 2010

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The big picture Most people tend to regard the national accounts as just an update on economic growth. But the publication is far more comprehensive than that, covering indicators such... Read more continue reading

MLC purchases balance of Meritum Financial Group

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MLC today announced the purchase of the remaining equity in financial advice business, Meritum Financial Group. MLC acquired a minority ownership stake in Meritum as part of its acquisition of... Read more continue reading

Record economic expansion moves into 20th year

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National accounts The current economic expansion began in the September quarter of 1991. The 19th year of the expansion was completed in the June quarter 2010 and the 20th year... Read more continue reading

Private equity benefits for ING PEAL

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Listed investment company, ING Private Equity Access Limited (ASX code: IPE), has announced that another one of its underlying private equity investments, the Bledisloe Group, is to be sold. The... Read more continue reading

Global markets unlikely to recover to historical norms: hedged global bonds offer great value says PIMCO

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PIMCO has challenged conventional mean reversion assumptions due to deleveraging of private sector balance sheets, re-regulation, and slower growth coming from large developed nations Much of the developed world is... Read more continue reading

Puritan Australia? Alcohol and gambling shunned

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Consumer spending trends Aussie consumers are making fewer trips in the car but travelling more on planes and trains. And while we are spending more on little luxuries like shoes,... Read more continue reading

Addwealth launches superannuation fund

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Niche player bucks the ‘beige’ trend in super Financial planning and funds management company Addwealth has today launched its own superannuation fund, the Addwealth Advantage Super Fund. The new fund,... Read more continue reading

Lonsec releases natural resources sector review

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Lonsec has released its 2010 review of the Natural Resources sector, encompassing 11 funds across the three Natural Resources sub-sector lines: Resources: Investments participating in the energy, industrial metals and... Read more continue reading

Greece, Ireland, etc…the ongoing European debt debacle

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Key points While Ireland has now been granted financial assistance from the IMF and European Union, concerns remain regarding Portugal and Spain. Spain is a bigger risk as it is... Read more continue reading