PEFO non-event; Businesses still gloomy

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Pre-Election Economic & Fiscal Outlook; NAB business survey No change: It was almost certain that the Pre-Election Economic & Fiscal Outlook (PEFO) figures were going to be the same as those

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Lending lifts to 5-year high; Petrol price slides

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Petrol prices; Lending Finance; Credit & debit card lending Petrol prices: According to the Australian Institute of Petroleum, the national average Australian price of unleaded petrol fell by 2.3 cents

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RBA: Interest rate cut on agenda next week

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The Reserve Bank Governor has delivered a speech at the Anika Foundation in Sydney. The Reserve Bank Governor has provided the clearest message yet that while super low interest rates are

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State of the States – July 2013

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State & territory economic performance report How are Australia’s states and territories performing? Each quarter CommSec attempts to find out by analysing eight key indicators: economic growth; retail spending; equipment

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CommSec: New data allays fears about Chinese economy

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Latest Chinese economic data The Chinese economy grew at 7.5 per cent annual pace in the June quarter – in line with forecasts.The economy grew by 1.7 per cent in

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Investor Signposts: Week Beginning July 14 2013

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Australia July 15   Lending finance (May) – Covers personal, business, housing and lease loans July 15   New vehicle sales (June) – Sales hit record highs; up 5.5% over the year

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CBA Economics: RBA open to further rate cuts

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Minutes of the June Reserve Bank Board meeting suggest Board members were very comfortable to keep interest rates on hold. But believed that they could do more if necessary. Reserve

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Youth unemployment falls to a 4½-year low

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Employment rose by 1,100 in May after rising by a revised 45,000 jobs in April (previously reported as a 50,100 rise in jobs). Economists had expected a 10,000 fall in

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Stable rates boost confidence

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The Westpac/Melbourne Institute index of consumer confidence rose by 4.7 per cent in June. All five components of the index rose in June. The index is up 6.9 per cent

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Chinese economy: firm growth, low inflation

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Chinese activity and trade data were close to market expectations in May but inflation data printed below economist forecasts. What do the figures show? Retail trade rose at a 12.9

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