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The prevailing mandate of the South African Reserve Bank is informed by sound economics and the need to protect the institution from the whims of politicians.
Fed Chair Janet Yellen speaks at a press conference following the rate-hike decision.
AP Photo/Susan Walsh
The Federal Reserve lifted rates for the second time this year and expects to do so once more, suggesting it’s fairly confident the economic recovery will continue. Is it overconfident?
Treasurer Scott Morrison called a press conference this week to comment on March-quarter GDP figures.
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Treasurer Scott Morrison says Australia will “grow into growth”. Global economic conditions suggest otherwise.
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House prices in Sydney and Melbourne are cooling, housing approvals are up, and everyone’s wondering if Australian banks have been lending too much.
Is the Australian economy ‘the little engine that could’?
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Some seem to think the RBA is bullish on growth, but reading between the lines it seems to be hedging.
The Conversation
There’s been quite a bit of speculation over whether Australia has a property market bubble - where house prices are over-inflated compared to a benchmark - and when it might burst. According to housing…
Australian Treasurer Scott Morrison says the budget papers will make a formal distinction between ‘good debt’ and ‘bad debt’.
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In the lead-up to the federal budget, the government has made a number of significant and sometimes surprising policy announcements.
Australia’s central bank says labour market conditions have been weaker than expected.
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Wages are sluggish, underemployment seems stubbornly high, and there is a continued push to part-time rather than full-time employment.
APRA chairman Wayne Byres is leading a crackdown on interest-only loans, but it may not be enough to cool some parts of the housing market.
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Negative gearing plus inadequate supply plus low wage growth equals financial distress.
Rapid rise of Australian house prices have created disagreement between economists on whether a housing bubble currently exists.
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Economists struggle to agree on when and where housing bubbles occur, but bubbles all have similar characterisitics.
Declining interest rates have been working for home buyers, now they are working against them.
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Declining interest rates has made housing more affordable over the past thirty years, but it has also increased the risk for homebuyers.
The foundations of Australian house prices could shift at any time.
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Australia’s central bank is still trying to walk a delicate tightrope.
if you like to drink (or sell) German beer, higher rates are a wonderful thing.
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While borrowers may not be thrilled by the Federal Reserve’s decision to raise rates, many of us have plenty of reason to celebrate.
The shift to part-time employment in the labour force has been going on for a long time now.
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Uncertainty about energy prices and political dithering on company tax rates point to businesses waiting before investing heavily.
The Reserve Bank, under Governor Philip Lowe, this week kept the cash rate at 1.5%.
AAP/Dean Lewins
It is a puzzle as to why businesses are reasonably confident but not willing to invest.
Consumers are faced with more economic uncertainty than the bottoming out of interest rates would otherwise suggest.
AAP/Sam Mooy
If the stars align, consumers will benefit from increased economic activity in the short term. And if they don’t, then the economic recovery will have consumers saving more in uncertain times.
With investor lending taking off again, the regulator could impose tighter constraints on bank lending.
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Investor loans are on the increase again, causing pause for the regulators.
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Home owners and first time buyers are right to be confused, so how should you play expected changes to a low rates environment?
We could soon head into another volatile period.
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Brexit and Trump pave the way for more financial market uncertainty.
US Fed Chair Janet Yellen’s term expires in early 2018. Who will replace her?
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My Christmas fiscal wish is that in 2017 both sides of politics treat the Australian public like adults.