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Economics

Chief economist update: Another rate cut on the cards

BENJAMIN ONG  |  FRIDAY, 14 JUN 2019
At this point, I'm not so sure whether an additional - or even two - RBA rate cuts would be able to turn the economy around and, more specifically, encourage highly indebted households to increase their spending.

Chief economist update: Australian bull market here we come

BENJAMIN ONG  |  THURSDAY, 13 JUN 2019
The domestic bourse's recent impetus has undoubtedly been triggered by the RBA's recent rate cut and expectations for at least one more reduction this year.

Chief economist update: BOE going the wrong way?

BENJAMIN ONG  |  TUESDAY, 11 JUN 2019
The BOE is right to argue for an early rate hike given the economy's resilience to global challenges but prudence dictates it must guard against the uncertain impact of Brexit.

Chief economist update: Oil market slides from bull to bear

BENJAMIN ONG  |  FRIDAY, 7 JUN 2019
The slide in oil prices is likely to intensify as global demand takes a hit from even weaker economic activity at the same time as rising US stockpiles.

Chief economist update: The Budget surplus can wait

BENJAMIN ONG  |  THURSDAY, 6 JUN 2019
Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong. Latest GDP growth figures show domestic economic growth at its slowest in a decade, giving credence to the RBA rate cut decision.

Chief economist update: The path of monetary policy according to Lowe

BENJAMIN ONG  |  WEDNESDAY, 5 JUN 2019
The Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) decision to cut the official cash rate to a fresh record low of 1.25% takes the country's monetary policy into uncharted waters.

Chief economist update: The rate cut Australia has to have

BENJAMIN ONG  |  TUESDAY, 4 JUN 2019
The decline in US interest rate expectations make it a sure bet the RBA will announce a 25 basis point rate cut to 1.25% today.

Chief economist update: US recession in the offing

BENJAMIN ONG  |  MONDAY, 3 JUN 2019
Trump tweeted a renewed call to war on Mexico last week that practically made a mockery of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement - the one that replaced NAFTA just seven months ago.

Chief economist update: ECB exit proves premature

BENJAMIN ONG  |  FRIDAY, 31 MAY 2019
Like other major world central banks, the European Central Bank wants to bring monetary policy back towards normality. But they may have been too quick to act.

Chief economist update: The greatest challenge of our time

BENJAMIN ONG  |  THURSDAY, 30 MAY 2019
The Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell has deemed below-target inflation "one of the major challenges of our time".