Resilient Job Market

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Employment rose by 13,900 in November after a revised gain of 10,100 jobs in October (previously +10,700). Economists had expected a flat result. In November, full-time jobs fell by 4,200

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Onward & upward Australia

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The record-breaking economic expansion has notched up another quarter of growth. The Australian economy grew by 0.5 per cent in the September quarter to stand 3.1 per cent higher than

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Interest rates fall: Are we there yet?

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The Reserve Bank Board reduced the official cash rate by 25 basis points (quarter of a per cent) to 3.00 per cent. The next Board meeting is on February 5

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Biggest drop in profits since GFC

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Company profits fell for the fourth straight quarter, dropping by 2.9 per cent in the September quarter. Profits stand 13.0 per cent lower than a year ago. Sales fell in

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Weak lending adds weight to rate cut case

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Private sector credit (lending) rose by just 0.1 per cent in October after rising by 0.3 per cent in September. Annual credit growth eased from 4.0 to 3.8 per cent

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Record resource projects: like putting man on the moon

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The Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics (BREE) has estimated that committed investment in resources and energy major projects in Australia increased to a record $268.4 billion at October 2012.

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Aussie dollar lifts in response to Chinese data

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There were further signs of recovery of the Chinese economy with the HSBC “flash” purchasing managers index rising from 49.5 to a 13-month high of 50.4 in November. The Aussie

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RBA considers further rate cuts

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The latest Reserve Bank Board minutes suggests that the decision to leave interest rates on hold in November was finely balanced as higher inflation offset a slowing domestic economy. The

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Have interest rates bottomed?

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The Reserve Bank has retired to the interest rate sidelines to assess the impact of the three rate cuts over 2012: “there are signs that easier conditions have been having

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Chinese dragon stirs again

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Chinese economic data is looking up. Retail sales in October were up 14.5 per cent on a year ago (consensus 14.0 per cent); industrial production was up 9.6 per cent

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