Ho-hum job market

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If anyone was wondering whether the economic growth figures properly reflected what was going on in Australia, they had the answer in the latest jobs data. The job market is

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Economy limping, not leaping, into 2012

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We should never forget that the economic growth data is ancient history. The Reserve Bank sets monetary policy by looking forward, not back. And in terms of published economic data,

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Reserve Bank acknowledges pain in community

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The Reserve Bank Board has left official rates at 4.25 per cent. Last year the Reserve Bank cut rates at both the November and December meetings, each by 25 basis

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Profits barely budge in 2011 while inflation is subdued

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Company profits slumped by 6.5 per cent in the December quarter to stand 2.2 per cent higher than a year ago. In 2011 profits rose by just 2.1 per cent

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Battle-scarred companies winning the fight – corporate profit season

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CommSec has assessed the results of 131 companies from the ASX 200 index that reported half-year (HY) results to December 2011 (results for the six months to December) and 24

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RBA Testimony conveys confidence in domestic economy

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The Reserve Bank Governor has delivered the clearest message yet that the Central Bank has a strong degree of confidence in the outlook for the domestic economy. The tone and

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Wages winners & losers

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Average weekly ordinary time earnings rose by just 0.5 per cent in the December quarter with private sector wages up 0.4 per cent and public sector wages up 0.7 per

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The CommSec 30/40/50 project

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Many Australian consumers complain about the high cost of living. But more than likely you would hear the same complaint if you went back 30 years ago or even 50

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More jobs but outlook still murky

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Employment rose by 46,300 in January after a revised 35,700 fall in December (previously reported as a 29,300 decline). Economists had expected a 10,000 lift in jobs. Healthy mix in

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Confidence levels pick up

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The Westpac/Melbourne Institute index of consumer confidence rose by 4.1 per cent in February to a reading of 101.1. Sentiment levels are still down 5.2 per cent on a year

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