RBA Reprieve …
But don’t be Fooled

The RBA appears to be performing a rather fine balancing act.

Key factors affecting the RBA's future decisionsIts Board knows rising inflation is about to emerge. And this is only temporarily masked by a poor March quarter, following the nation’s flooding earlier in the year. [Read more…]

Retail Property Facing Challenges

Retail challenges.


Having weathered the recent rate increases, consumer confidence seems to have risen just a measly 0.3% during November — according to the latest Westpac/Melbourne Institute consumer sentiment index.

Households still appear to prefer paying down debt, rather than spending — with Australia’s saving level hovering around a record 10.5% of its disposable income.
[Read more…]

How to Interpret the Conflicting Signals

Over the past weeks, I’ve posted several articles suggesting things are starting to improve — and more particularly, here in Victoria.

Upward Trend

Upward Trend


Since the low point on 6 March, the Australian stock market has enjoyed roughly a 20% improvement. And that has also been reflected on Wall Street.

However, we then received the recent announcement of unemployment reaching 5.7% for March — the worst for 5 years.

On the one hand, the Bulls are claiming the stock market is now confirming a turnaround. And on the other, the Bears are using the rise in unemployment to support their case as to how bad things are.

Surely, these two indicators can’t both be right?
[Read more…]