Happy 21st Birthday Australia!

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The Australian economy has just completed its 21st year of growth; the last recession ended in the June quarter of 1991. It is the longest expansion in Australia’s history. In

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Reserve Bank holds fire… for now

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The Reserve Bank Board has left the official cash rate at 3.50 per cent for the third straight month. The variable housing rate is applying modest stimulus to the economy

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Barrage of economic data

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There is a barrage of economic data coming out… Retail trade: Retail spending fell by a surprising 0.8 per cent in July after lifting by 1.2 per cent in June.

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Weakest lift in investment plans in 19 years

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New business investment rose by 3.4 per cent in the June quarter, in line with forecasts. Spending on buildings rose by 4.8 per cent in the quarter while spending on

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Profit squeeze but companies ride out storm

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There are three days left in the profit-reporting season. CommSec has assessed the results of 114 companies from the ASX 200 index that have reported full-year results to June 2012

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Home sales slump to near 11-year low

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New homes sales fell by 5.6 per cent in July, wiping out all the gains recorded over the previous five months. Sales stand at the second lowest level in 11

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Perspectives on China

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There is a long way to go in China’s industrialisation. Effectively China is at the same point that Japan was at in 1968 or at a similar point to where

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Reserve Bank happy to sit on the sidelines

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The Reserve Bank has released minutes of the Board meeting held on August 7. Overall it is clear that the Reserve Bank is currently happy with interest rate settings. Inflation

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China: Well-placed for a second half recovery

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Chinese retail sales rose by 13.1 per cent on a year ago (consensus 13.5 per cent); industrial production was up 9.2 per cent (consensus 9.7 per cent); and fixed asset

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Olympic medals…seasonally adjusted

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On a per capita (per person) basis, Grenada could be judged the most successful at the Olympics with the best ratio of medals per person (I per 105,000 people). Jamaica

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