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Economics

Chief economist update: How would you vote if seated on the RBA board?

BENJAMIN ONG  |  TUESDAY, 5 MAR 2019
Financial markets expect the RBA to do nothing this month but expectations further out have changed from steady to a cut in the official cash rate.

Chief economist update: Time to pig out on China shares?

BENJAMIN ONG  |  MONDAY, 4 MAR 2019
Reports that MSCI will raise China's weighting in its indices by more, and sooner, will prompt fund inflows into Beijing.

Chief economist update: US economic growth is slowing and accelerating

BENJAMIN ONG  |  FRIDAY, 1 MAR 2019
US economic growth both slowed and accelerated in the final quarter of 2018 depending on what measurement of US GDP growth rate is used.

Chief economist update: Wrong way, go down

BENJAMIN ONG  |  THURSDAY, 28 FEB 2019
The Australian/US dollar exchange rate is up 1.3% this year despite all the bearish forecasts. In other words, it's headed in the wrong direction.

Chief economist update: The Fed has hit neutral

BENJAMIN ONG  |  WEDNESDAY, 27 FEB 2019
The US Federal Reserve has reached neutral - the "neutral interest rate" level, that is - the Goldilocks state of monetary policy where it is neither accommodative nor restrictive.

Chief economist update: Trump tweets bull market back into China

BENJAMIN ONG  |  TUESDAY, 26 FEB 2019
China's Shanghai Composite Index spiked 5.6% yesterday after US President Donald Trump used his fingers to do the talking.

Chief economist update: The RBI surprises (again)

BENJAMIN ONG  |  MONDAY, 25 FEB 2019
The slowing trend in inflation should have alerted financial markets that the Reserve Bank of India would do as it did - cut the repo rate by 25 basis points to 6.25%.

Australia ahead in gender diversity

KARREN VERGARA  |  MONDAY, 25 FEB 2019
Australia's commitment to making gender diversity on boards a serious business imperative and without government intervention has made it a standout from other countries. And financial services led the way.

Chief economist update: Nerves of steel

BENJAMIN ONG  |  FRIDAY, 22 FEB 2019
Westpac chief economist Bill Evans is pencilling in two RBA 25 basis point rate cuts this year, to which I can only say he has nerves of steel.

Chief economist update: Cut it, cut it now

BENJAMIN ONG  |  THURSDAY, 21 FEB 2019
No RBA, growth in wages have remained stagnant - and that's just for the lucky few. The unlucky ones have, in effect, seen their incomes eroded by inflation (thank goodness prices haven't increased by much).