White Paper: How important is Currency?

From

Currency Background Currency markets are one of the largest and most liquid in the world. Economic variables like interest rates, economic growth, inflation and productivity are some of the drivers

continue reading

The Aussie Economy – The Big Picture

From

Economic Perspectives A host of economic figures have been released over the past week including the latest national accounts data – the most comprehensive assessment of the Australian economy. So

continue reading

Petrol at 29-month highs and rising

From

Weekly Petrol; Job Ads; Performance of Construction According to the Australian Institute of Petroleum, the national average Australian price of unleaded petrol rose by 2.9 cents per litre to 139.2

continue reading

House approvals slump to near 2-year lows

From

Building Approvals; Trade; New Vehicle Sales The outlook for home builders is gloomy. Council approvals to build news homes slumped by 15.9 per cent in January. In annual terms approvals

continue reading

Investor Signposts: Week Beginning March 6 2011

From

The big picture The Reserve Bank Governor isn’t one to gloat. But you can certainly sense from the latest interest rate decision that Glenn Stevens is pretty pleased with the

continue reading

Economic expansion still stuck in second gear

From

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

continue reading

RBA: Start of an extended rate pause?

From

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

continue reading

Smaller retailers hit by consumer strike

From

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

continue reading

Petrol set to surge but inflation still contained

From

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

continue reading

Businesses bank on second half recovery

From

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

continue reading