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Economics

Aust manufacturing activity measure falls slightly in August

AAP  |  WEDNESDAY, 1 SEP 2004
A measure of Australian manufacturing activity fell slightly in August as a boost from the Federal government\'s family payments subsided, a survey has found.

Small business confidence at 11 year high - survey

AAP  |  TUESDAY, 31 AUG 2004
Australia\'s small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are experiencing the strongest business conditions in more than a decade, a quarterly business index reported today.

Aust June qtr c/a deficit $11.967 bln, s/adj

AAP  |  MONDAY, 30 AUG 2004
Australia reported a seasonally adjusted current account deficit of $11.967 billion in the June quarter from an upwardly revised $12.089 billion in the March quarter, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said.

Aust current account deficit expected to narrow in June qtr

AAP  |  MONDAY, 30 AUG 2004
Australia\'s current account deficit is expected to have narrowed modestly in the three months to the end of June, economists said, ahead of the release of the latest measure today.

Aust business investment rises 5.8% in June qtr - ABS

AAP  |  THURSDAY, 26 AUG 2004
Business investment jumped 5.8% in the June quarter, new figures showed today, driven by an increase in spending on new equipment and machinery.

Greenspan says global recovery strengthening

AAP  |  WEDNESDAY, 25 AUG 2004
Global growth has picked up over the past year but some countries like Japan face a significant threat if oil prices remain elevated, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said.

Westpac/Melbourne Institute leading index 4% in June

AAP  |  WEDNESDAY, 18 AUG 2004
The Westpac/Melbourne Institute leading index of economic activity, which indicates the likely pace of economic activity six to nine months into the future, was 4% in June, above its long-term trend of 3.4%.

Jobless rate rises to 5.7% in July - ABS

AAP  |  THURSDAY, 12 AUG 2004
Australia\'s unemployment rate has gone up for the second month in a row, hitting 5.7% in July, new figures showed today.

Aust govt to support ALP amendments on FTA

AAP  |  THURSDAY, 12 AUG 2004
The government will support Labor\'s amendments to the free trade agreement with the United States despite concerns about the impact of the changes, Prime Minister John Howard said today.

CBA's Murray does not believe rates on way up

AAP  |  THURSDAY, 12 AUG 2004
Commonwealth Bank of Australia\'s chief executive David Murray today said he did not believe interest rates were on the way up.