Investor Signposts: Week Beginning November 14 2010

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Upcoming economic and financial market events The big picture It never ceases to surprise how many people treat budget figures as facts rather than estimates. The Mid Year Economic and

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Profit slump but Government still upbeat

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NAB business survey; Mid Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) NAB business confidence index eased from +10.1 to +8.1 in October. The business conditions index fell from +6.7 in September

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Investor Signposts: Week Beginning November 7 2010

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The big picture In the past there have been a host of factors cited by the Reserve Bank to justify lifting interest rates. So what about the most recent lift

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Reserve Bank returns to watchful stance

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RBA Statement on Monetary Policy; PCI The Reserve Bank has tinkered with economic growth forecasts, but the trajectory is largely unchanged. However the Reserve Bank has modestly downgraded inflation forecasts.

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Biggest slide in home building in a decade

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Latest economic data The outlook for home builders is gloomy. Council approvals to build news homes slumped by 6.6 per cent in September. Over the past six months approvals have

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Reserve Bank takes a punt

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Reserve Bank Board meeting For the first time in six months the Reserve Bank has elected to increase official interest rates, lifting the cash rate by 25 basis points to

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Budget deficit soars to record high

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Federal budget The underlying budget deficit hit a record high of $63.3 billion in the twelve months to September 2010, indicating that the Government has plenty of work to do

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Investor Signposts: Week Beginning October 31 2010

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The big picture Here’s a scary thought – 2010 is almost over, with just over two months to go to the end of the year. So it is opportune to

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Deflation reigns: Bonanza for consumers

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Consumer Prices There are more goods falling in price currently than at any time over the past decade. In the June quarter 33 items were cheaper than a year ago

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Inflation: Another beautiful set of numbers

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Consumer Price Index Australia’s main inflation measure – the consumer price index (CPI) – rose by 0.7 per cent in the September quarter, well below economist forecasts. The annual rate

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