Weak home lending reinforces need for rate pause

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Housing finance Lending to build new homes was flat in October. A key leading indicator for home construction barely moved in October – ahead of the November rate hike. Loans

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Investors returning to listed property for attractive income streams

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A recovery that’s supported by a ‘back to basics’ approach is offering listed property  investors the traditional returns they’ve been denied in the recent past, according to Brett McNeill, Investment

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Bumper crop despite floods; Construction slumps

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ABARE Crop Report; Performance of Construction The Government’s commodity forecaster has lifted its crop forecasts. ABARES has lifted its forecast for the 2010/11 winter crop by 6.2 per cent. Despite

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Russell’s institutional business poised for growth

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New specialists to provide focused resources for industry and government super funds, and financial institutions (non-super clients) Russell Investments today announced a number of strategic appointments dedicated to supporting the

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Reserve Bank more relaxed about the road ahead

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Reserve Bank Board meeting The Reserve Bank Board has left the cash rate at 4.75 per cent at its final meeting for 2010. The next meeting is on February 1

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FPA restructure and small business

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Greetings as we begin to prepare for XMAS. Well no shortage of activity in the industry  this month with the announcement of the restructure of the FPA to represent individual

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Petrol pain ahead; Tame inflation; Job ads slow

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Weekly Petrol Price, Inflation gauge; Job Advertisements Motorists need to prepare for higher petrol prices. The terminal gate or wholesale price of petrol leapt by over 3 cents a litre

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Migrant numbers hit 4yr low despite tight job market

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Latest economic indicators The job market is tight but permanent settler numbers have plunged. Net permanent and long-term arrivals to Australia hit 4-year lows in the year to October. In

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Further appointments at Aviiid Third-age Living

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Retirement asset manager continues to grow its team Retirement asset management specialist, Aviiid Third-age Living, has moved another step closer to formalisation of its flagship fund, A-CARES No. 1, with

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Depressed services sector; 4WD sales soar

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Latest economic data The services sector is going backwards. The Performance of Services index fell from 50.7 to 46.2 in November. Any reading below 50 suggests that the services sector

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