Record number of firms shun finance

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The NAB business confidence index rose from +3.1 to +4.0 in January, below the long-run average of +6.4.  Business conditions improved from +0.1 to +2.1, below the long-run average of

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Rate cuts still likely as RBA downgrades growth

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The Reserve Bank has not ruled out further interest rate cuts. Near term growth and inflation forecast have been downgraded, albeit mildly while the central bank remains optimistic about the

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Lunar holiday distorts inflation landscape

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Chinese New Year boosts Inflation. China’s annual inflation rate rose from 4.1 per cent to 4.5 per cent in January – above expectations. Over the month inflation rose by 1.5

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Interest rates on hold – for now anyway

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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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Seasonal businesses blow hot & cold

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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

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Jobs: the winners & losers

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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,

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Lowest inflation reading in 3 years

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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

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Investing for the long haul

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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

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State of the States – January 2012

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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

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Weakest job market in 20 years

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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

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