RBA warns of new challenges

From

If there is any doubt that the Reserve Bank is not forward looking, it certainly has been put to rest. The latest Reserve Bank minutes reveal that policymakers have attempted

continue reading

History: US credit rating downgrade

From

Credit ratings agency, Standard & Poor’s, has downgraded the long-term credit rating of the US from AAA to AA+. What does it all mean? It is a history-making event, but

continue reading

Sharemarket crash trumps Reserve Bank forecasts

From

The Reserve Bank has changed its interest rate assumptions, now expecting no change in rates over the next two years: “The cash rate is assumed to be unchanged over the

continue reading

Reserve Bank employs a ‘jawboning’ strategy

From

The Reserve Bank Board has left the cash rate at 4.75 per cent for the ninth straight month (covering eight formal meetings) – the most stable period for rates in

continue reading

Inflation surprise: rates now in focus

From

The main measure of inflation in Australia – the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 0.9 per cent in the June quarter, above economist expectations focussed on an increase of

continue reading

RBA mulls over multi-speed economy

From

The latest Reserve Bank minutes revealed that Board members remain generally optimistic about the medium term outlook, but in the near term the domestic economy seems to be facing some

continue reading

State of the states – state & territory performance report

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

Investor Signposts: Week Beginning July 10 2011

From

The big picture Confused about where the economy is heading? You’re in good company, with the boffins from the Reserve Bank also seemingly scratching their collective heads about where things

continue reading

CommSec: Unemployment rate is a good indicator of job market health

From

Labour force The unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.9 per cent in June. The participation rate edged up from 65.5 per cent to 65.6 per cent. The working age population

continue reading

Trade surplus hits seven month high

From

International trade; Performance of Services Australia’s trade surplus widened by $716 million to $2,333 million in May – a seven month high. Exports rose 3.2 per cent with imports up

continue reading