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Economics

Australia back in the black

KANIKA SOOD  |  TUESDAY, 2 APR 2019
Australia's budget is back in the black after 12 years, as the Treasurer estimates a surplus of $7.1 billion or 0.4% of the GDP for 2019-20.

Chief economist update: China stitches it in time

BENJAMIN ONG  |  TUESDAY, 2 APR 2019
Latest data shows that China's manufacturing sector is back in expansion.

Chief economist update: No credit to the RBA

BENJAMIN ONG  |  MONDAY, 1 APR 2019
If the RBA's very own Financial Aggregates report doesn't convince the board to consider an interest rate cut very, very soon, by the time it does it may all be too little too late.

Chief economist update: The Fed should act now

BENJAMIN ONG  |  FRIDAY, 29 MAR 2019
Last night's US GDP growth downgrade to an annualised rate of 2.2% in the December quarter indicates the slowdown is gathering momentum.

Chief economist update: A question of when?

BENJAMIN ONG  |  THURSDAY, 28 MAR 2019
Before the yield curve goes deeper into negative territory and as proven many times throughout history - a recession is coming.

Chief economist update: Japan should raise taxes another day

BENJAMIN ONG  |  WEDNESDAY, 27 MAR 2019
In both 1997 and 2014 the Japanese economy was deemed strong enough to withstand an increase in tax on spending. On both occasions a recession ensued.

Chief economist update: Woe to the world

BENJAMIN ONG  |  MONDAY, 25 MAR 2019
Other central banks around the world can still save the day with their new policy changes.

Chief economist update: RBA repeats history

BENJAMIN ONG  |  FRIDAY, 22 MAR 2019
The lesson from 2011 is that the RBA's non-proactive response forced it to lower interest rates by more than it should, if only it paid attention to the slowing employment growth trend.

Chief economist update: Fed on ice

BENJAMIN ONG  |  THURSDAY, 21 MAR 2019
The Fed gave the markets what they expected - it kept rates at 2.25%-2.5%.

Chief economist update: BOJ decision announced and ignored

BENJAMIN ONG  |  WEDNESDAY, 20 MAR 2019
In case you failed to notice, the Bank of Japan (BOJ) concluded a two-day monetary policy meeting not long ago - 14-15 March. Don't worry, you haven't missed much (or anything).