The latest ABS Labour Force survey painted a deeply mixed picture of the job market. On the one hand, this single print presented a compelling picture: a substantial increase of 42,200 new jobs, all full-time in net terms, and a robust growth in hours worked. However, a longer view reveals a decidedly more challenging picture. As
The ferrous complex remains paralysed by iron ore prices that are too high for steel profits. But we are in some equilibrium, as steel demand and supply are locked together. Modestly reduced steel supply has been drawing down inventory. While lifting iron ore inventory at ports. Something needs to change to rebalance. Either the government
The Australian National University (ANU) is one of the nation’s key purveyors of immigration propaganda. Propagandists like “Dr Demography” Liz Allen are regular mouthpieces on the pro-Big Australia migration circuit, as are the ANU Migration Hub’s Peter McDonald and Alan Gamlen. When Australia’s net overseas migration hit 530,000 in the year to December 2023, the
I long for a competent opposition. The Albanese government has sabotaged energy policy to such an extent that it is a miracle it remains in power. Check out some examples today. Cathy King is the owner of hairdressing business Toni&Guy, which has 22 salons across Sydney. Ms King, who manages three salons, says her electricity
Last week, the Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority (APRA) released its new prudential standard, effective February 2026, which caps high-risk mortgages (debt-to-income ratio over 6x) at 20% of new lending. APRA’s announcement aims to manage housing vulnerabilities preemptively amid rising prices but excludes new housing builds and applies portfolio-wide, allowing banks flexibility while aligning with government goals
Friday night saw Wall Street return from its short Thanksgiving break and aside from some technical difficulties trading was bullish across the major indicies, with European stock markets also lifting into the month end. All eyes are still on the Fed’s December meeting where a rate cut is a given, with USD pulling back again
DXY held, but the uptrend looks set to be tested. AUD is ready to rise. CNY supportive. Gold whoa! Metals mania returns. The chosen one. EM lagging. EM junk warning. Yields firmed. Stocks too. Goldman reckons DXY is ready to fall meaningfully. We believe that as the US data backlog is slowly cleared it will
IEEFA wants Albo to waste another $1bn on green iron. As Australia pours $1 billion into its Green Iron Investment Fund, it can learn important lessons from the US and EU, where several low-emissions steel projects backed by capital grants were subsequently cancelled or delayed. Projects with a “gas first, green hydrogen later” approach struggled,
China printed a bit of inflation in October, but it was pretty obviously seasonal. There is bugger all momentum in prices. The PPI was worse, though it also fell over the line in the month. Anti-involution has dented deflation but it is temporary. Bloomberg has some great charts on the great deflation. Rise of
It is time to shutter the ABC. Flag burning should be criminalised, immigration should be capped based on housing supply, and the ABC and SBS should be sold and replaced by a taxpayer-funded broadcaster only for regional and outback Australia, according to resolutions to be debated at the Liberal National Party’s state council this weekend.