Friday night saw the release of the latest US retail sales numbers with import prices spiking and consumer inflation expectations rising again, getting traders further worried on Wall Street. The USD was on the ropes against all the majors, with oil prices also pushed slightly lower after stalling all week while Treasuries where sold off
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) claims that international education is Australia’s fourth largest export, earning the country $51 billion in 2023–24. The ABS calculates this fantastical education “export” figure by summing expenditure by student visa holders on tuition fees and goods and services. In 2024-25, the ABS estimated that $30.2 billion was spent by
A major reason for the decline in Australia’s productivity and living standards is that Australia has grown its population rapidly via mass immigration (i.e., 8.7 million population increase this century, the fastest in the advanced world) but has failed to provide the extra workers with extra tools, machinery, and technology; extra homes for the millions
By Lucinda Jerogin, Associate Economist at CBA The RBA cut the cash rate by 25bp to 3.60% in a unanimous decision and was widely expected. The Wage Price Index printed broadly in line with expectations, rising by 0.8%/qtr in Q2 25 to be 3.4% higher annually. The unemployment rate retreated to 4.2% in July. The
International Reading: Mark Cuban says companies should be taxed more for buying back their own shares – Business Insider The Trump family has raked in $3.4 billion over his two presidencies, new report says – The Independent Goldman stands by call that consumers will bear the brunt of tariffs after Trump blasts bank’s economist –
Asian share markets were dominated by Chinese data today with weakness across their domestic economy while Japanese GDP data came in slightly better than expected. Most markets are up as a result as Chinese traders expect more stimulus while the BOJ seems to be faring okay with its inflationary targets not pulling back growth. The
Since the COVID-19 lockdowns started in Australia in March 2020, the nation’s capital city home prices have risen at vastly different rates. As illustrated below using PropTrack data, dwelling values in Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide have soared at similar rates, increasing by around 90% since March 2020 across the three markets. Sydney dwelling values have
The Market Ear on bubble trouble. Pushing it SPX trying to break above the Bollinger band. Not a reason to sell itself, as markets can stay in the upper Bollinger band for longer than most think possible, but still worth watching. Source: Bloomberg/GS Concentration “Growing index concentration and narrowing market breadth has increased downside risk
Record public spending has recently powered the Australian economy. At the same time, Australian households have exhibited recessionary behaviour, with real per capita household consumption tracking negative for seven consecutive quarters on an annual basis, down 2.4% from its peak. The decline in household spending, which usually accounts for about 60% of GDP growth, is
DXY is up again. AUD down. CNY fine. Gold whacked. Metals OK. Miners are going lower. EM rolled. Junk is fine. Yields up a bit. Stocks flat. The US PPI was pretty hot today. Even worse, it’s mostly services. Add ongoing pressure from goods via tariffs. With wage growth going strong as Trump slashes immigration