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

Economics

Chief economist update: Australia burns

BENJAMIN ONG  |  MONDAY, 6 JAN 2020
It's still too early to estimate the funding required for fire ravaged communities but a tick on the budget surplus is hardly worth anything compared to the rebuilding that must be done soon after the last embers of this Australian fire calamity had ...

Chief economist update: More jobs dull rate cut bets

BENJAMIN ONG  |  FRIDAY, 20 DEC 2019
In his last update for the year, Financial Standard chief economist Ben Ong determines whether the ABS's latest update on the labour market brings good tidings for the Australian economy.

Chief economist update: Stock rally heralds 2020 cheer

BENJAMIN ONG  |  THURSDAY, 19 DEC 2019
Whether or not policy decisions are sufficient to reverse the slowing momentum in global economic growth remains to be seen.

Chief economist update: Oil's well that ends 2019 well

BENJAMIN ONG  |  WEDNESDAY, 18 DEC 2019
The improving global growth dynamics due on the back of the de-escalating trade war, less uncertainty surrounding Brexit and central banks' continued policy accommodation could revive global oil demand by more than forecast.

Chief economist update: War is over

BENJAMIN ONG  |  TUESDAY, 17 DEC 2019
Well, the trade war's not completely over, but the financial markets' rally on news that a phase one deal between the US and China has been reached provides a snippet of what joy to the world a trade peace could bring.

Chief economist update: Three cheers for Christmas

BENJAMIN ONG  |  MONDAY, 16 DEC 2019
The Fed, Brexit and US-China trade deal brings good tidings for Christmas.

Chief economist update: Changing to Lagarde

BENJAMIN ONG  |  FRIDAY, 13 DEC 2019
Not even Christine Lagarde wants to come out with all guns blazing in her debut as the new president of the ECB.

Chief economist update: Has the Fed conquered the yield curve?

BENJAMIN ONG  |  THURSDAY, 12 DEC 2019
The US has come a long way, baby. From US recession worries to the prospect of a resumption of hikes in interest rates by 2021. Not a good look for Westpac's Bill Evans...

Chief economist update: Businesses remain unmoved by low rates

BENJAMIN ONG  |  WEDNESDAY, 11 DEC 2019
The recent NAB Business Survey indicates that RBA Governor Lowe still can't make the horse drink.

Chief economist update: Eurozone negative rates a failure?

BENJAMIN ONG  |  TUESDAY, 10 DEC 2019
If the ECB cannot get to positive rates by the middle of 2021, then its experiment in negative rates would have been for nothing. That's according to Kate Samranvedhya of Jamieson Coote Bonds.