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Showing 111 - 120 of 3072 results for "Benjamin"

Chief economist update: Bubble, bubble getting out of trouble

BENJAMIN ONG  |  MONDAY, 19 APR 2021
"Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away..." -Frank Sinatara It didn't happen overnight, but it's happening... now. The Trans-Tasman bubble is here! After more than a year - I recall watching Qantas' chief executive saying it's ...

Chief economist update: Australians all let us rejoice

BENJAMIN ONG  |  FRIDAY, 16 APR 2021
Australia is back! Back on track after its economy was cruelly interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This space had been ranting about the virtuous cycle that had been circling around the nation since activity and business and consumer sentiment indicators ...

Chief economist update: RBNZ keeps policy steady on unsteady outlook

BENJAMIN ONG  |  THURSDAY, 15 APR 2021
If in doubt, remain patient and do nothing. This is the gist of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) policy statement following the conclusion of its April 14 monetary policy meeting. The RBNZ kept the official cash rate unchanged at 0.25% and maintained ...

Chief economist update: Australia's confidence contagion

BENJAMIN ONG  |  WEDNESDAY, 14 APR 2021
Australia may not be "at the front of the queue for a safe and effective vaccine" (as Morrison declared back in November 2020) but it's certainly leading much of the world in containing the virus and strengthening economic recovery. This was the ...

Chief economist update: ScoMo cannot miss new vaccination target

BENJAMIN ONG  |  TUESDAY, 13 APR 2021
Some move the goalposts when they can't hit the target, but Prime Minister Scott Morrison did one better and all but abandoned his government's vaccine roll-out target. Taking to Facebook, Morrison announced on April 10 that: "The government ...

Chief economist update: No fear

BENJAMIN ONG  |  MONDAY, 12 APR 2021
The coronavirus optimism that prevailed over the dying weeks of 2020 and into the first quarter of this year has been replaced by concerns over the resurgence in infections - in Europe, India, Japan, South Korea and lately, the US, among others - caused ...

Chief economist update: Europa rides the bull once again

BENJAMIN ONG  |  FRIDAY, 9 APR 2021
Just like the myth of Europa, Eurozone equities are riding on the back of a bull. Eurozone equities soared to their highest levels in 13 years. The VStoxx index - the Eurozone's fear gauge dropped to 13-month lows. Lucky 13. The Euro Stoxx-50 index ...

Chief economist update: Fourth wave threatens Olympics, growth outlook

BENJAMIN ONG  |  THURSDAY, 8 APR 2021
The way it's (not) going for Japan, recent upgrades to its 2021 economic growth made by the OECD and the International Monetary Fund might need to be toned down or even reversed to a downgrade at their next outing. The OECD's March 2021 "Interim ...

Chief economist update: RBA promises support over the next three years

BENJAMIN ONG  |  WEDNESDAY, 7 APR 2021
"Come on, Barbie, let's go party"... until 2024. In Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) parlance: "The board is committed to maintaining highly supportive monetary conditions until its goals are achieved. The board will not increase the cash rate until ...

Chief economist update: Positive feedback loop

BENJAMIN ONG  |  TUESDAY, 6 APR 2021
"Business is picking up as mandated restrictions seem to be easing and spring is right around the corner." "Higher levels of demand related to additional business reopening, and increased activity related to vaccination distribution." "Vaccination rates ...