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Economics

Chief economist update: China's beef with Australia

BENJAMIN ONG  |  WEDNESDAY, 13 MAY 2020
Less than five months into the year and it has gone from devastation wrought by the bushfires, the lockdown forced on society by the coronavirus and, just in, a brewing trade war with China - its biggest trading partner.

Chief economist update: Easing does it (again)

BENJAMIN ONG  |  TUESDAY, 12 MAY 2020
Easing - this time of social distancing and lockdown restrictions - along with continued policy support from monetary and fiscal authorities has improved financial market sentiment... a lot.

Chief economist update: Bad news is good news is back

BENJAMIN ONG  |  MONDAY, 11 MAY 2020
In the current world of high volatility, one day's gain could be wiped out the next. Still, the US equity market's benchmark indices are showing renewed strength at the margin.

Chief economist update: Annus horribilis with a vengeance

BENJAMIN ONG  |  FRIDAY, 8 MAY 2020
I don't know what the Latin term is for a year that's worse than 'annus horribilis', but 2020 would be it.

Chief economist update: Will emerging markets be first to emerge?

BENJAMIN ONG  |  THURSDAY, 7 MAY 2020
There is a strong case to overweight emerging equity markets versus developed ones, as they report lesser cases of COVID-19 and ease lockdown restrictions earlier than their developed counterparts.

Chief economist update: The outlook for Australia, according to COVID-19

BENJAMIN ONG  |  WEDNESDAY, 6 MAY 2020
RBA governor Philip Lowe's statement yesterday put in black and white what all central bankers and governments are currently thinking - it all depends on the success of containing or beating COVID-19. But even the RBA's baseline scenario is bad.

Lockdown measures cost $4bn a week: Frydenberg

ELIZA BAVIN  |  TUESDAY, 5 MAY 2020
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has revealed the COVID-19 social restrictions are costing the Australian economy $4 billion a week.

Chief economist update: Eurozone good news to get worse before it gets better

BENJAMIN ONG  |  TUESDAY, 5 MAY 2020
The slowing rate of infections and deaths suggest the Eurozone has passed the peak of its COVID-19 experience and its now looking to scale back lockdown measures. Even if its hit with a second wave, the damage has already been done.

Unemployment already over 15%: Roy Morgan

KANIKA SOOD  |  MONDAY, 4 MAY 2020
April unemployment data released by Roy Morgan today paints a far gloomier picture of Australia's workforce than the Australian Bureau of Statistics' latest data from March.

Chief economist update: No escaping the inverted yield curve

BENJAMIN ONG  |  MONDAY, 4 MAY 2020
While we've all been focused on flattening the curve, but the yield curve may just be reclaiming its dominance.