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Economics

Business puts competitiveness before national security, survey shows

Business has ranked international competitiveness way above national security as the most important issue to be confronted in next month's Budget.

CPI figures to show inflation below RBA target, economists say

AAP  |  MONDAY, 26 APR 2004
Inflationary data out this week is expected to show the headline CPI rate has dropped below the Reserve Bank's target range of two to three per cent for the first time since 1999.

Major industrial nations see strong economic growth ahead

The world is poised for strong economic growth this year and next, the world's major industrial nations concluded at a weekend meeting, even though there are concerns about high oil prices and continuing unrest in the Middle East.

Living standards predicted to fall

Ageing demographics and rising health costs will see Australia's living standards fall 27% below what they would otherwise be - the equivalent of $130 billion a year in today's terms, according to a report released last week by the Association of Superannuation ...

IMF says world economic outlook rosy

AAP  |  THURSDAY, 22 APR 2004
The outlook for the world economy had brightened in the last six months and was now among the rosiest in 10 years, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said today.

WTO warns time running out

At a Geneva meeting of the WTO's 146 member states, including Australia, director-general Supachai Panitchpakdi welcomed a new willingness between delegates to discuss thorny topics such as farming but warned that time was running out.

ASEAN nations to push for FTA with Australia

South-East Asia's economic ministers said today they would urge their leaders to finally broker a free trade agreement with Australia and New Zealand.

Telstra tops market expectations

AAP  |  WEDNESDAY, 21 APR 2004
Telstra today topped market expectations, reporting third quarter sales revenue had risen by 1% to $5.014 billion. The result compares to market expectations of an increase between 0.4-0.5%.

S&P reaffirms rating on Virtue Trust

AAP  |  WEDNESDAY, 21 APR 2004
Standard & Poor's said today that it has affirmed its AAA rating on the class A-1, A-2, and A-3 notes issued by Virtue Trust following the Victorian Government's appointment of Connex and Yarra Trams as operators of Melbourne tram and train services.

Merchandise imports up 20%: ABS

AAP  |  TUESDAY, 20 APR 2004
Merchandise imports soared 20% to $11.3 billion in March, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said today.