Asia Economics Update Asia, not the politics, will drive Australia's outlook The hung parliament outcome of Australia’s weekend election will inevitably hit local markets for a time but the long-run impact should be small. The main political parties have similar fiscal... 23rd August 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Australia's monetary tightening is not over The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) held its cash rate at 4.5% today, as was universally anticipated. We expect the mining boom to bring above-trend GDP growth over the next few years and there is... 3rd August 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Australia’s cash rate still likely to rise later this year The Reserve Bank (RBA) meets on Tuesday and is almost certain to keep its policy rate on hold at 4.5%, given that Q2 consumer price data were softer than expected. Nonetheless, the mining boom will... 2nd August 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Australia goes to the polls early It was announced over the weekend that Australia will hold Federal elections on 21st August. The main campaign issues will be the mining tax, climate change policy, and the stance toward asylum... 19th July 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Australia's monetary tightening has further to go The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) held its cash rate at 4.50% today, as expected. The external risks have increased but the RBA is still upbeat about the local outlook. GDP growth is forecast to... 6th July 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Australia outlook strong despite the leadership upheaval International investors should not be concerned by the change of prime minister even though, by Australian standards, the events of this week have been unprecedented. Data on population trends, which... 25th June 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Australia’s GDP slowdown likely to be short-lived Australia’s economy expanded for the fifth consecutive quarter in Q1 but at a slower pace than in late 2009. GDP should accelerate again soon with private sector investment set to take the lead... 2nd June 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Australia’s central bank has more work to do The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) held its cash rate at 4.50% today, as expected. The risk of an extended pause in policy rates has increased. Nevertheless, we still forecast that the next move will... 1st June 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Australia targets a quick return to surplus Today’s Federal Budget in Australia was a low-key affair even in the context of an imminent general election which will be a close contest. The aim of moving back to a fiscal surplus by 2012-13, some... 11th May 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Australia rates to move still higher The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) lifted its cash rate to 4.50% today, as expected. Policy rates should move from neutral to being restrictive over the next 12 months, although rate hikes from now... 4th May 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Australia to tighten again Australia’s Reserve Bank (RBA) meets on Tuesday and, although it is a close call, will probably lift the cash rate again by 25bp to 4.50%. This is now the markets’ view too. The economy is moving from... 3rd May 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Australia policy tightening to become restrictive in 2011 The minutes for the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) April meeting, released today, have underlined yet again that the outlook for the economy is very good. The cash rate is virtually certain to move... 20th April 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Australian policy rates to rise again in May The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) raised its cash rate to 4.25% today. GDP growth should be strong this year despite the withdrawal of stimulus measures, while core inflation remains above target... 6th April 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Australia to pause in April before hiking in May Moving early has given the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) the flexibility to vary the pace of monetary tightening. Further rate hikes are inevitable but labour market and retail sales data have been... 5th April 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Update Australian policy rates set to rise again in May The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) raised its cash rate to 4.00% today, as expected. GDP growth is returning to trend and could even be there already, while core inflation is above target. Policy... 2nd March 2010 · 1 min read
Asia Economics Weekly Australia to resume monetary tightening It is a close call, but the Reserve Bank (RBA) is likely to hike rates again at its Tuesday meeting. The no change in early February was always a pause and not the end of monetary tightening... 1st March 2010 · 1 min read
