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Economics

Japan does a double double-dip

BENJAMIN ONG  |  TUESDAY, 17 NOV 2015
The economy has slid back into recession with real GDP contracting at an annualised rate of 0.8% in the third quarter that followed a 0.7% decline in the June quarter - that's recession number four or double double-dips since the global financial crisis.

Paris adds to the "why nots" for a December lift-off

BENJAMIN ONG  |  MONDAY, 16 NOV 2015
To be sure, like the Madrid and London bombings, and 9/11, financial markets would regain their composure in no time after the Paris attacks.

Mother's Day

BENJAMIN ONG  |  FRIDAY, 6 NOV 2015
Expectations for a December lift-off would rise or fall depending on whether the actuals - employment add, unemployment rate, average weekly earnings, etc. - beat or disappoint market expectations.

A December lift if...

BENJAMIN ONG  |  THURSDAY, 5 NOV 2015
"What the committee has been expecting is that the economy will continue to grow at a pace that's sufficient to generate further improvements to the labor market and to return inflation to our 2 percent target over the medium term."

Good tidings sway RBA to stay

BENJAMIN ONG  |  WEDNESDAY, 4 NOV 2015
Well, 'twas a coin flip anyway - the rationales for a cut was equally rational as those for a no cut - so no blame all around.

Banks face wealth management challenges

DARREN SNYDER  |  TUESDAY, 3 NOV 2015
The big four banks' wealth businesses benefitted from a lower Australian dollar and a strong performance in investment markets for most of the year but generating acceptable return on equity (ROE) remains a challenge.

Pick a number

BENJAMIN ONG  |  TUESDAY, 3 NOV 2015
Australia, after all, is one of the few economies where monetary policy has not been corrupted by "non-conventional" policies to date... so the 'Taylor Rule' should still work.

Rusting still

BENJAMIN ONG  |  MONDAY, 2 NOV 2015
The direction of iron ore prices is largely tied to outlook for China's economy - the world's largest consumer of the commodity.

Six point five is PM Li's new like

BENJAMIN ONG  |  FRIDAY, 30 OCT 2015
"The nation needs annual growth of at least 6.53 per cent in the next five years to meet the government's goal of establishing a "moderately prosperous society".

December lift-off, yeah, sure

BENJAMIN ONG  |  THURSDAY, 29 OCT 2015
For those of us watching the data, the data says no to December... unless things dramatically turn around, that is.