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Economics

C is the key

BENJAMIN ONG  |  WEDNESDAY, 22 NOV 2017
Gauging from the CME FedWatch Tool, this is 91.5% certain. ut one striking point in the CME Group's website is the increased odds that it could be a 50 bps hike - the probability rose to 8.5% from 1.9% a month before. Still low, but rising nonetheless.

Japan on reverse cycle?

BENJAMIN ONG  |  TUESDAY, 21 NOV 2017
Preliminary estimates show Japanese GDP growth slowed to 0.3% in the September quarter - half the 0.6% expansion recorded in the previous three-months. No big deal for this is in line with market expectations.

What price Brexit certainty?

BENJAMIN ONG  |  MONDAY, 20 NOV 2017
The UK's seeming capitulation flies in the face of Theresa May early on in her prime ministership that "no deal is better than a bad deal."

Where in the cycle is Australia?

BENJAMIN ONG  |  FRIDAY, 17 NOV 2017
Without a pick-up in consumer spending, overall economic growth would remain stuck in the slow lane at best. Worse, unlike the saying "a penny saved is a penny earned", a consumers' penny not spent is a business penny not earnt.

'tis the season to not be jolly

BENJAMIN ONG  |  THURSDAY, 16 NOV 2017
Thank goodness Australia doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving Day - there won't be anything to give thanks for when it comes around next week. While we're at it, Santa Claus may not be coming to town either.

Australian business conditions gone gangbusters

BENJAMIN ONG  |  WEDNESDAY, 15 NOV 2017
Australian business conditions hit all-time record high, consumer confidence retreats, wages growth remains sluggish.

Less liquidity to lessen risk

BENJAMIN ONG  |  TUESDAY, 14 NOV 2017
The reduction in liquidity couldn't have been more perfectly timed for the economy continues to expand greater than the government's growth target of 6.5% this year.

Taxing times

BENJAMIN ONG  |  MONDAY, 13 NOV 2017
Self-interest and self-preservation dictate that neither US political party - Democrats or Republicans - would want to be known as the party that killed the tax cuts.

China's inflation lift indicates strong demand

BENJAMIN ONG  |  FRIDAY, 10 NOV 2017
While the rising pressure on consumer and producer prices suggests that the People's Bank of China could switch its current neutral with a tightening bias policy into actual tightening, it remains well below the targeted 3% inflation rate.

China trade deficit with Australia widens

BENJAMIN ONG  |  THURSDAY, 9 NOV 2017
China buys more from Australia than it sells.