Newspaper icon
The latest issue of Financial Standard now available as an e-newspaper
READ NOW

Search Results

Showing 371 - 380 of 2991 results for Benjamin Ong

Chief economist update: Businesses remain unmoved by low rates

BENJAMIN ONG  |  WEDNESDAY, 11 DEC 2019
The National Australia Bank's (NAB) latest Business Survey report shows business conditions remained unchanged at a reading of +4 in November (from October) but business confidence fell to a reading of zero, negating October's two-point increase ...

Chief economist update: Eurozone negative rates a failure?

BENJAMIN ONG  |  TUESDAY, 10 DEC 2019
"Give me a one-handed economist. All my economists say 'on one hand...', then 'but on the other..." - Harry Truman The AFR recently published an opinion piece from Kate Samranvedhya - a Bachelor of Science in Economics graduate from Massachusetts ...

Chief economist update: It's Christmas time in the city

BENJAMIN ONG  |  MONDAY, 9 DEC 2019
"Oh the weather outside is frightful..." While a "phase one" deal between the US and China appears to be close (again), it's still prudent not to write-off the possibility of a re-escalation in the tariff wars given Trump's recent targeting ...

Chief economist update: A penny saved, a penny not earned by the economy

BENJAMIN ONG  |  FRIDAY, 6 DEC 2019
"As this prudent economy, which some people call Saving, is in private families the most certain method to increase an estate, so some imagine that, whether a country be barren or fruitful, the same method if generally pursued (which they think practicable) ...

Chief economist update: Australian economy gently turning which way?

BENJAMIN ONG  |  THURSDAY, 5 DEC 2019
Australia's economic growth accelerated to 1.7% in the year to the September quarter from 1.6% in the June quarter, justifying Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) governor Philip Lowe's oft-repeated claim that, "the Australian economy appears to ...

Chief economist update: The Grinch steals Christmas

BENJAMIN ONG  |  WEDNESDAY, 4 DEC 2019
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) disappointed no one when it kept the official cash rate unchanged at a record low 0.75% after the conclusion of its December 3 meeting. This is perfectly rational: Monetary policy operates with a lag - it takes about ...

Chief economist update: Bah humbug

BENJAMIN ONG  |  TUESDAY, 3 DEC 2019
"Have yourself a merry little Christmas, Let your heart be light From now on, Our troubles will be out of sight..." - Judy Garland Yes, Virginia, it looked like that over the past few weeks and into the first days of the Christmas month. The rally in ...

Chief economist update: Chinese green shoots?

BENJAMIN ONG  |  MONDAY, 2 DEC 2019
It might be a mere 0.2 point above the line but it was indication enough that China's manufacturing sector has stopped contracting. The official National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) China manufacturing PMI increased to a reading of 50.2 in November ...

Chief economist update: Lower rates still fail to animate

BENJAMIN ONG  |  FRIDAY, 29 NOV 2019
Uh-oh...we might be getting in trouble now. Not only are Australian households not lifting their spending despite the drop in the official cash rate to a record low 0.75% but it's looking a lot like businesses aren't too. The Australian Bureau ...

Chief economist update: Weaker yen strengthening Japan

BENJAMIN ONG  |  THURSDAY, 28 NOV 2019
Apart from underwriting improved growth in the Japanese economy, the yen's depreciation should help in the Bank of Japan's (BOJ) efforts to bring inflation up to its 2% target. Look ma, no hands! "Merkurisumasu, soshite, akemashite omedet?!" ...