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Economics

Jobs, jobs, jobs

BENJAMIN ONG  |  THURSDAY, 9 MAR 2017
If ADP's estimate for February is any guide, the official US non-farm payrolls report (due out at the end of the week) would prove no deterrent to a Fed interest rate hike at the conclusion of its 14-15 March FOMC meeting.

Women key to finance sector culture issues

KARREN VERGARA  |  WEDNESDAY, 8 MAR 2017
The financial sector's culture weaknesses will drive more focus on the importance of gender diversity, according to AustralianSuper chair Heather Ridout.

Steady as she grows

BENJAMIN ONG  |  WEDNESDAY, 8 MAR 2017
The RBA would welcome such development as a Fed rate hike would signal the US central bank's confidence over the strength in the American economy and its outlook. A lift in the fed funds rate would underpin US dollar strength or the flipside, A$/US$ ...

First of three (or more) coming next week

BENJAMIN ONG  |  TUESDAY, 7 MAR 2017
Recent data indicates that the Fed's dual mandate - employment and inflation - "are continuing to evolve in line with our expectations".

Going good but there are risks

BENJAMIN ONG  |  MONDAY, 6 MAR 2017
Property prices could fall one day but not until interest rates increase significantly that it creates mortgage defaults and the unemployment rate jumps.

What a drag

BENJAMIN ONG  |  FRIDAY, 3 MAR 2017
The gathering synchronisation in global economic growth, along with strengthening manufacturing activity conditions in China - underscored by the higher than expected official and Caixin manufacturing PMI for February - suggest a recovery in Australian ...

Good credit

BENJAMIN ONG  |  WEDNESDAY, 1 MAR 2017
While as expected, growth in lending to households accelerated to 2.2% in the year to January from 2.0% in the previous month. This is the fastest annual rate of increase since May 2011 and the third consecutive month of strengthening credit growth.

Bad credit

BENJAMIN ONG  |  WEDNESDAY, 1 MAR 2017
Total private sector credit went up by a lower than expected 0.2% in the month of January - the slowest pace since June last year.

A good set of numbers (almost)

BENJAMIN ONG  |  TUESDAY, 28 FEB 2017
Australian company gross operating profits surged by 20.1% in the December quarter following a small 1.5% increase in the preceding quarter. This is the fastest quarterly rate of growth since the 34.7% jump recorded in March 2001 and is significantly ...

Wednesday delivery

BENJAMIN ONG  |  MONDAY, 27 FEB 2017
Doubts appear to be emerging and the longer the Trump administration make the markets wait for the details (which would then be approved or denied or scaled down by Congress), the longer the uncertainty.