Posted at 19 Aug 2020 in Economic Updates by

Introduction Covid-19 developments continued to dominate attention. There were spikes in the number of new infections in both Australia and overseas, suggesting an economic recovery may be delayed. Share markets powered ahead, however, as investors remained convinced that governments and central banks will provide sufficient financial assistance...

Posted at 12 May 2020 in Economic Updates by

Market and Economic overview Australia The coronavirus ‘curve’ of known cases has flattened out, suggesting social distancing measures have been successful in slowing the spread of the disease. The focus is now on a gradual easing of restrictions – people will gradually start returning to work...

Posted at 26 Mar 2020 in Economic Updates, Federal Budget Updates, General Interest by

What it means for individuals, retirees and the Australian economy With the COVID-19 coronavirus crippling the Australian economy and affecting livelihoods, the Australian Federal Government has announced a range of measures to support both businesses and individuals. The total stimulus announced to date is worth $189...

Posted at 12 Feb 2020 in Economic Updates by

Market and Economic overview Australia Headline inflation rose slightly more than expected in the December quarter. Prices rose 0.7% over the three-month period, the fastest quarterly increase in three years. This took the annual inflation rate to 1.8%. The increase was partly due to higher food...

Posted at 17 Nov 2019 in Economic Updates by

Market and Economic overview Australia Australian interest rates were lowered by 0.25% to 0.75% in October but left unchanged in November. Most observers expect borrowing costs to be lowered further in the next few months. The latest reading of Australian consumer confidence fell unexpectedly sharply. This was a...