In much of the rest of the world, the month-to-month moves of interest rates by central banks are not something that rates much of a mention around the proverbial equivalent of the backyard BBQ. Yet in Australia, moves in interest rates are monitored as if they were part of the national sporting pastime and a
Stats NZ released migration data for October, which showed that large numbers of Kiwis continue to leave, mostly for Australia. Net migration was only 11,929 in the year to October, down from a net gain of 35,400 in the October 2024 year. The current net migration inflow is a fraction of the circa 130,000 peak in
Amidst the ongoing debate over the future of Ukraine and whether the United States will force peace terms on the war-weary nation, Europe’s leaders are deeply considering ratcheting up the stakes in their ongoing battle with Washington. According to reports from the Wall Street Journal, European governments are considering a drastic step, dumping huge quantities
The Australian dollar – much like most other undollars – made new highs last night on the long expected rate cut by the US Federal Reserve, with the added boost of Fed Chair Powell calling it a “neutral position” not a hawkish reaction as expected: Full statement from the Fed below – the TLDR takeaway
Australia’s Treasurer of propaganda, “Spin” Jim Chalmers, can’t stop spreading misinformation about the state of the economy. A few weeks back, Spin Jim claimed that Labor had delivered the “longest period of consecutive real wage growth in almost a decade” following eight consecutive quarters of annual real wage growth: Spin Jim’s brag came despite a 0.5%
Wall Street loved the rate cut from the Fed last night and the apparently neutral not hawkish future position espoused by Fed Chair Powell. Other risk markets also saw a lift while the USD was poleaxed across the board with Euro up sharply. Oil prices saw a small lift as did other commodities while the
Alex Joiner, chief economist at IFM Investors, posted the following chart on Twitter (X) showing the long-run collapse in construction sector productivity: “If we want to address supply issues in residential construction and deliver non-resi and infrastructure projects on time and budget, then we need to foster productivity growth in the construction sector”, Joiner said.
Tuesday’s interest rate decision saw the RBA leave the official cash rate on hold at 3.60%. In its media statement accompanying the decision, the RBA noted that the recent rise in CPI inflation had been partly driven by temporary factors, though the extent was uncertain. The RBA also noted that Australia’s labour market remains “a
The latest Chinese inflation numbers were slightly higher than expected which has seen the potential for a BOC RRR cut next year move lower, also pushing mainland shares down as well. All other Asian markets are in the red as well with the risk complex awaiting tonight’s FOMC meeting to see what is in store
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has delivered 3.25% of interest rate cuts since July 2024. This reduction in the OCR has delivered a corresponding decline in new mortgage rates to pre-pandemic norms: Normally, such a sharp reduction in mortgage rates would result in a lift in homebuyer demand and prices. However, as illustrated below