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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Jobs rebound yet outlook still murky

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Employment rose by 14,000 in July after a revised fall of 28,300 in June (previously 27,000). Economists had expected 10,000 jobs to be added. In July part-time jobs rose by

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Reserve Bank exhibits quiet confidence

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

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The CommSec iPad Index: Aussie dollar too dear?

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Over time we have modified the index to keep pace with changes in products such as the iPod touch, iPad2 and the “new iPad”. This update looks at the pricing

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Aussies spend again, but for how long?

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Retail spending rose by 1.0 per cent in June after lifting by 0.8 per cent in May. In the June quarter retail trade rose by 1.4 per cent in real

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Solid improvement in Federal Budget

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The underlying budget deficit for the twelve months to May stood at $34.1 billion – the lowest result in almost three years (33 months). The deficit has improved by 45

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Gender gaps: More work required

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The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has released its latest Gender Indicators publication, showing how men and women fared on a range of economic and social indicators. The ABS has

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The truth about the economy & optimism on China

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An upbeat Reserve Bank Governor Glenn Stevens delivered a speech “The Lucky Country” – in the question & answer session, the Governor reportedly said that monetary policy settings are about

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