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Economics

In search of that elusive Australian animal spirit

BENJAMIN ONG  |  FRIDAY, 24 FEB 2017
Would one or two or three more rate cuts unleash Australian companies' animal spirits?

The power of optimism

BENJAMIN ONG  |  THURSDAY, 23 FEB 2017
Inopportune perhaps for Gov Lowe's positive outlook on wage growth came on the same day that the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released its latest update on Australian wage growth ? and it was weak.

A tale of three PMIs

BENJAMIN ONG  |  WEDNESDAY, 22 FEB 2017
Positive growth momentum in the world's biggest economies should provide the rising tide that lifts all boats with positive implications for equities.

Boring but the trend is our friend

BENJAMIN ONG  |  FRIDAY, 17 FEB 2017
The seasonally-adjusted estimates for January of the Australian Bureau of Statistics' (ABS) 'Labour Force' report once again sparked divergent views on the true state of the domestic labour market.

A rate rise on the ides of March?

BENJAMIN ONG  |  THURSDAY, 16 FEB 2017
Ides of March 2017 corresponds with the conclusion of the US Federal Reserve's two-day meeting (14-15 March) - the day when financial markets expect the Fed to give interest rates another gentle lift.

British inflation quickens but still off-target

BENJAMIN ONG  |  WEDNESDAY, 15 FEB 2017
The latest inflation data remains below the Bank of England's (BOE) 2.0% target and should not put immediate pressure on the British central bank to lift interest rates.

China price rises

BENJAMIN ONG  |  WEDNESDAY, 15 FEB 2017
China's consumer price inflation accelerated to 2.5% in the year to January from 2.1% in the previous month. While this is higher than market expectations for a 2.4% gain and the highest inflation rate since May 2014, it remains below the PBOC's 3.0% ...

Bump in business confidence and conditions

BENJAMIN ONG  |  WEDNESDAY, 15 FEB 2017
Unlike the seemingly inconsistent result from the December survey - where business conditions gained 4 points while business confidence was flat - January's result showed business conditions increased by 6 points while confidence rose by 4 points.

Vehicle sales hit the roadblock

BENJAMIN ONG  |  TUESDAY, 14 FEB 2017
The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) reported that total vehicle sales grew by a mere 0.2% in the year to January - the slowest since February last year. This compares with annual growth rates of 9.5% in December and 16.6 in November.

Lifted by external demand

BENJAMIN ONG  |  TUESDAY, 14 FEB 2017
Though below market expectations, the Japanese economy managed to stay afloat, up 0.2% (1% annualised rate) in the fourth quarter of 2016.