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

Economics

Chief economist update: The curse of Japan's consumption tax hike

BENJAMIN ONG  |  TUESDAY, 15 JAN 2019
Despite some signs of improvement in economic activity, inflation remains stubbornly stuck below the Bank of Japan's target.

Budget surplus unlikely as economy stalls: Fitch

OSKAH DUNNIN  |  TUESDAY, 15 JAN 2019
Economic slowdown and waning tax revenue is set to delay the Federal Government's 2019/20 financial year surplus, according to market analysts at Fitch Solutions.

Chief economist update: Safe as burning houses

BENJAMIN ONG  |  MONDAY, 14 JAN 2019
While still orderly, the decline in Australian property prices could morph into a more problematic one as headlines and concerns over further price falls become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Fed's pause becomes the ECB's problem

BENJAMIN ONG  |  FRIDAY, 11 JAN 2019
Needless to say, the continued appreciation of the euro vis-a-vis Uncle Sam's currency would exacerbate the negative momentum with regards to the region's growth and inflation prospects.

Fed steady with a slight chance of a rate cut

BENJAMIN ONG  |  THURSDAY, 10 JAN 2019
Fed funds futures trading show that US interest rates would remain unchanged through to the end of 2019 - with a small chance that the Fed could CUT rates by 25 bps this year or the next.

Why the RBA has reason to cut rates in 2019

BENJAMIN ONG  |  WEDNESDAY, 9 JAN 2019
Our resident chief economist explains why the continued drop in property prices could force the RBA to defy consensus and cut rates.

Chief economist update: Another year over, a new one begins

BENJAMIN ONG  |  MONDAY, 7 JAN 2019
You, I and Irene certainly need well-wishes aplenty if 2019 turns out to be anything like 2018 - where all major world equity markets produced negative returns and are at correction levels.

Chief economist update: Fed fail

BENJAMIN ONG  |  THURSDAY, 20 DEC 2018
The US Federal Reserve disappointed expectations for only a single rate hike next year. Its dot plot shows two more in 2019 plus the continued shrinking of its balance sheet.

Final call for 2019 Chief Economists Forum

DARREN SNYDER  |  WEDNESDAY, 19 DEC 2018
There are five economic factors that will determine whether investors add more risk to emerging markets portfolios in 2019. It's also at a time when EM equity valuations are relatively cheap yet investor sentiment is dim.

Investors to move on property before election: BlackRock

HARRISON WORLEY  |  WEDNESDAY, 19 DEC 2018
The world's largest asset manager can't see the bottom of Australia's housing downturn and it expects investors to be ahead of the game.