Economic expansion still stuck in second gear

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National accounts Australia’s record economic expansion is now well into the 20th year. The Australian economy grew by 0.7 per cent in the December quarter, after lifting by a downwardly

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Income investors turn to global equities

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Forecast double-digit earnings to drive dividend growth Income-seeking investors will increasingly turn to global equities in 2011, with leading international asset manager Threadneedle forecasting that key international markets will experience

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Earnings season: Headwinds aplenty

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Corporate profit season The profit-reporting season has largely concluded, although there are a small number of ASX 200 companies to report. CommSec has assessed the results of the 120 companies

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Geopolitical tensions have potential to cause oil prices to double, CMC Markets says

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20 year analysis shows an actual supply disruption could cause further climbs The recent geo-political tension in the Middle East and Northern Africa has again highlighted the sensitivity of crude

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RBA: Start of an extended rate pause?

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Reserve Bank Board meeting The Reserve Bank Board has left the cash rate at 4.75 per cent at its second meeting for 2011. The next meeting is on April 5

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Smaller retailers hit by consumer strike

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Retail trade; Performance of Manufacturing; BOP Retail spending grew by 0.4 per cent in January – in line with the Commonwealth Bank Business Sales Indicator which was released two weeks

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Petrol set to surge but inflation still contained

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Weekly Petrol; Latest economic data According to the Australian Institute of Petroleum, the national average Australian price of unleaded petrol rose by 1.2 cents per litre to 136.3 cents a

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Businesses bank on second half recovery

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Private New Capital Expenditure; Average weekly earnings New business investment rose by a less than expected 1.3 per cent in the December quarter. Manufacturing dominated investment plans with investment in

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Investor Signposts: Week Beginning February 27 2011

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The big picture The role of a business economist is to educate, inform and occasionally entertain. But most people merely want business economists to explain what key issues mean in

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Building slumps; but renovations in vogue

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Construction work done Construction work done rose by 0.8 per cent in the December quarter, due solely to higher engineering activity. Residential building fell by 1.1 per cent in the

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