Seasonal businesses blow hot & cold

From

Seasonal businesses rely on ‘normal’ weather conditions. In simple terms, in summer it needs to be hot and in winter in needs to be cold. But for those businesses relying

continue reading

Jobs: the winners & losers

From

The Hunter region of NSW had the lowest unemployment rate in the nation over 2011 averaging 2.3 per cent while the Far North of Queensland had the highest jobless rate,

continue reading

Lowest inflation reading in 3 years

From

The Consumer Price Index – the main measure of inflation in Australia – was unchanged in the December quarter. It was the lowest quarterly inflation reading for three years. In

continue reading

Investing for the long haul

From

Investors in commonly-held shares are still in front…despite a raft of tumultuous events over the past 13 years, Mum and Dad shareholders are still in front. Returns on the CommSec

continue reading

State of the States – January 2012

From

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 investment unemployment, construction work done population

continue reading

Weakest job market in 20 years

From

Employment fell by 29,300 in December – the biggest decline in eight months. Economists had expected a 10,000 lift in jobs. It was the second consecutive fall in jobs and

continue reading

What will it take to cheer up Aussie consumers?

From

Aussie consumers are still moderately pessimistic…the Westpac/Melbourne Institute index of consumer confidence rose by 2.4 per cent in January to a reading of 97.1 and sentiment levels are still down 7.2

continue reading

China successfully engineers ‘soft landing’

From

Chinese economic data was generally firmer than expected. The Chinese economy grew at an 8.9 per cent annual rate in the December quarter (consensus 8.7 per cent) down from 9.1

continue reading

Tame inflation but petrol pain ahead

From

Inflation is under control: The TD Securities-Melbourne Institute monthly inflation gauge rose by 0.5 per cent in December and stands 2.4 per cent higher than a year ago. Excluding volatile

continue reading

Friday 13th…should investors be nervous?

From

Over the past 15 times that the 13th has occurred on a Friday, the Dow Jones has fallen 7 times and the All Ordinaries has fallen 5 times. So on

continue reading