Business News
Good news for Government as budget improves - 12 March 2012
Budget improving. The underlying budget deficit for the twelve months to January stood at $37.1 billion. Over the same period the fiscal... read more >
Chinese slowdown opens door to stimulus - 12 March 2012
Chinese economic data was generally weaker than expected. Retail sales in January-February were up 14.7 per cent on a year ago (consensus 17.5... read more >
Trade aberration; Good news on Chinese inflation - 09 March 2012
Trade surplus disappears. Australia recorded a trade deficit of $673 million in January – the first deficit in 11 months and the biggest... read more >
Ho-hum job market - 08 March 2012
Employment zigs and zags: Employment fell by 15,400 in February after rising by 46,200 in January. Economists had expected a 10,000-15,000... read more >
Economy limping, not leaping, into 2012 - 07 March 2012
Sluggish economic growth – the Australian economy grew by 0.4 per cent in the December quarter, after growing by a downwardly-revised... read more >
Migrant inflows near four-year high - 07 March 2012
More migrants – the number of permanent settlers entering Australia hit a 41-month high of 14,210 in January. Over the past year 146,430... read more >
Reserve Bank acknowledges pain in community - 06 March 2012
The Reserve Bank Board has left official rates at 4.25 per cent. Last year, the Reserve Bank cut rates at both the November and December... read more >
Petrol price hits four-month high - 05 March 2012
Petrol prices are up. As predicted by CommSec, the national average retail petrol price rose by 3.1 cents to 146 cents a litre in the past... read more >
Profits barely budge in 2011; Inflation subdued - 05 March 2012
Company profits slumped by 6.5 per cent in the December quarter to stand 2.2 per cent higher than a year ago. In 2011, profits rose by just... read more >
Rate cuts finally boost house prices - 03 March 2012
In a world-first, RP Data and Rismark today commenced publishing ‘daily’ home value index results reflecting the current state of... read more >
Record investment boom set to drive growth - 01 March 2012
Investment moderated in the December quarter. New business investment in buildings or equipment fell by 0.3 per cent in the December quarter... read more >
Battle-scarred companies winning the fight - 01 March 2012
CommSec has assessed the results of 131 companies from the ASX 200 index that reported half-year (HY) results to December 2011 (results for... read more >
New home sales crash to 11-year lows - 01 March 2012
New home sales fell by 7.3 per cent in January to the lowest reading in 11-years. New detached house sales fell by 7.4 per cent in the month... read more >
Dollar gets cozy at 107 US cent-mark - 29 February 2012
The Australian dollar has moved in a tight range of late, down from yesterday’s close of 107.83 US cents to 107.56 US cents at 7am AEDT... read more >
Petrol price set to surge - 27 February 2012
Petrol prices are on the rise. According to the Australian Institute of Petroleum, the national average retail petrol price rose by 0.7 cents... read more >
RBA Testimony conveys confidence in domestic economy - 24 February 2012
The Reserve Bank Governor has delivered the clearest message yet that the Central Bank has a strong degree of confidence in the outlook for... read more >
Wages: winners and losers - 23 February 2012
New data confirms tame wages. Average weekly ordinary time earnings rose by just 0.5 per cent in the December quarter with private sector... read more >
Healthy wage growth backed by productivity gains - 22 February 2012
Wages rose by one per cent in the December quarter, in line with expectations. Annual growth of wages held steady at 3.6 per cent. Private... read more >
RBA: No rush to cut rates - 21 February 2012
The modest improvement in global economic conditions gave the Reserve Bank reason to pause in its current rate cutting cycle: Minutes of the... read more >
The CommSec 30/40/50 Project: purchasing power & affordability perspectives - 21 February 2012
Many Australian consumers complain about the high cost of living. But more than likely you would hear the same complaint if you went back 30... read more >
