Profit season: Mixed, but earnings still growing

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Corporate profit season The general sense is that the profit-reporting season has so far proved very mixed. And the numbers back it up. Figures produced from Bloomberg show that there

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Retailers benefit as consumers continue to spend

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CBA Business Spending index The Commonwealth Bank Business Sales Indicator (BSI) eased yet again in trend terms in January, but it certainly wasn’t all bad news. In fact only a

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Investor Signposts: Week Beginning February 20 2011

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The big picture One of the biggest issues at present is the conservatism of Aussie consumers. Australians are saving again, rather than spending. And rather than buying goods on credit

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Unleaded petrol sales slump to 13-year lows

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Petrol Sales; RBA Speech; Imports Petrol sales in the September quarter were the lowest for any September quarter in five years, as consumers and businesses focussed on cutting costs. Unleaded

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Car sales slide as buyer caution emerges

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New car sales Australian new car sales recorded a modest fall in January. Car sales fell by 1.9 per cent in January – marking the biggest monthly fall in six

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Chinese inflation remains a threat

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Chinese inflation data Inflation prints below forecast. China’s annual inflation rate lifted modestly in January, from 4.6 per cent to 4.9 per cent, but was still below expectations centred on

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Lending lifts but consumers still cautious

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Lending finance; ABARE Crop Report; RBA Board minutes Lending rose in December. Total lending finance rose for the fourth consecutive month up by 2.4 per cent in December. Lending totalled

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Confidence stabilises but trend index at 20mth lows

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Consumer sentiment The Westpac/Melbourne Institute index of consumer confidence rose modestly in February following the sharp slide in January. The index rose by 1.9 per cent to 106.6 in February.

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La Niña gauge hits 10-week low

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La Niña update There are further signs that the current La Niña weather event has peaked. The Southern Oscillation index fell to a 10-week low of +18.1 on February 11.

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Cheaper homes encourage buyers

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Housing finance; Credit card lending; Weekly Petrol Price Lending to build new homes recorded a healthy increase in December. Loans for the construction of dwellings rose by 1.0 per cent

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