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Economics

Chief economist update: When good oil goes bad

BENJAMIN ONG  |  THURSDAY, 10 MAY 2018
Higher oil prices are a de facto tax on income that limits consumption while at the same time increases costs of production that by extension lowers overall economic growth.

Chief economist update: We're headed for surplus (if assumptions hold)

BENJAMIN ONG  |  WEDNESDAY, 9 MAY 2018
Wayne Swan, Chris Bowen, and Joe Hockey all promised surpluses and failed - all because events didn't live up to their expectations.

Infrastructure receives $24.5 billion injection

KANIKA SOOD  |  WEDNESDAY, 9 MAY 2018
The Federal Government last night promised to inject $24.5 billion into new infrastructure projects, a move which could create opportunities for infrastructure investors and managers in the future.

What the 2018 Budget means for you

DARREN SNYDER  |  TUESDAY, 8 MAY 2018
More changes to Australia's $2.6 trillion superannuation system, additional funding to the nation's financial services regulators, personal tax cuts and additional pensioner benefits are the major talking points of Budget 2018.

Personal tax cuts lead the Budget

KANIKA SOOD  |  TUESDAY, 8 MAY 2018
Personal tax cuts were on the top of Treasurer Scott Morrison's five-point list to "strengthen the economy" as he opened his Budget night speech.

Budget big picture: Surplus on radar

ALEX DUNNIN  |  TUESDAY, 8 MAY 2018
Treasurer Scott Morrison, in his third Commonwealth Budget reports that government receipts rising 8.6% during 2017-18, compared to expenditure rising 4.7%, leaves Australia with an annual deficit of $18.2 billion and on its way to a modest $2.2 billion ...

Baby boomers receive $259 million, pension work bonus lifted

KANIKA SOOD  |  TUESDAY, 8 MAY 2018
Working baby boomers who also receive age pensions will now be able to earn up to $300 a fortnight before the Government starts to trim their pension payments.

What the associations want from Budget 2018

KANIKA SOOD  |  TUESDAY, 8 MAY 2018
When the clock strikes half past seven and Treasurer Scott Morrison starts to read his speech, here is what Australia's major financial services associations will be hoping for.

Chief economist update: Budget surplus can wait

BENJAMIN ONG  |  TUESDAY, 8 MAY 2018
The hope, of course, is the Australian government's generosity would generate a stronger labour market, stronger consumer spending and business investment that would further raise government revenues and voila, we have ourselves a budget surplus.

Chief economist update: Crying for Argentina

BENJAMIN ONG  |  MONDAY, 7 MAY 2018
The Argentinian central bank lifted interest rates, a move intended to stem the sharp and rapid depreciation of the Argentine peso and by extension, put downward pressure on inflation. hiked (spiked would be more apropos) by 675 basis points to a whopping ...