ECO
In search of statesmanship
| Phil Ruthven
Phil Ruthven | Leadership with long-term vision is hard to find.
First speed economy roars ahead
| Chris Richardson
Chris Richardson | The gap between the parts of the two-speed economy is widening.
Do the exchange rate jig
| Phil Ruthven
Phil Ruthven | Currencies are jumpy animals and demand attention and management.
China is gliding not diving
| SHANE OLIVEREconomy in Action | China looks headed for a soft landing, but don’t buy its shares just yet.
Don’t push WA, it could putsch back
| Phil Ruthven
Phil Ruthven | Western Australia has a lot going for it in terms of mining, however it doesn’t have a fair share of other industries.
Surplus to savings requirements
| Chris Richardson
Chris Richardson | To balance the budget over the long time we need to cut spending and raise taxes - a reality we don’t like to talk about.
No bad industries, only bad enterprises
| Phil Ruthven
Phil Ruthven | An analysis of the top performers shows that some enterprises still shine despite global pressures.
Steady as China goes
| Alan CarrollEconomy in Action | China is at the beginning of an attempt to rebalance the economy.
Transport must move beyond limits
| Phil Ruthven
Phil Ruthven | The transport industry’s revenue is expected to top $200 billion for the first time but it faces huge challenges.
Worldly reminders of debt problems
| Phil Ruthven
Phil Ruthven | Almost half of world GDP was in trouble with the advent and progress of the GFC.
Subsidy stupidity in car manufacturing
| Chris Richardson
Chris Richardson | Giving money to the car manufacturing industry is akin to smoking $100 notes.
Beware the bond hysteria
| Shane OliverEconomy in Action | Now is not a good time to undertake a structural reweighting from shares towards bonds.
‘Can Do’ but will he?
| Leo D’Angelo Fisher
Business will be watching to see what happens next following the win by Campbell Newman in Queensland.
Put shares before housing
| Chris Richardson
Chris Richardson | Houses may not be that overvalued when compared to national income.
Who’s making the money
| Phil Ruthven
Phil Ruthven | To work out which industries are the most profitable, it all depends on how we measure profit.
Signs of life in US housing
| SHANE OLIVEREconomy in Action | Bear market aside, US manufacturing is resurgent and even the housing sector is on the up.
Gold is better worn than stored
| Phil RuthvenWhat is it that makes people want to protect their wealth via gold?
Stuck in the Greece trap
| Chris Richardson
Chris Richardson | Handouts from the European Central Bank will not be enough to get Greece out of its economic mess.
Don’t worry, be happy
| Phil Ruthven
Phil Ruthven | The good news in Australia in 2012 far outweighs the not so good.
Looking after number yuan
| ALAN CARROLLEconomy in Action | Chinese capital market reforms have serious global knock-on effects.
Surplus quest a balancing act
| Phil Ruthven
Phil Ruthven | We should not be overly hung-up on deficits, as long as we don’t make a long-term habit of them.
Too soon to break out the champers
| Chris Richardson
Chris Richardson | In 2011, pretty much everything that could go wrong, did go wrong but early signs are better for 2012.
For love, money or both – if you’re lucky
| Phil Ruthven
Phil Ruthven | High-paying jobs aren’t always the ones most in demand.
Deleveraging is on
| Alan CarrollEconomy in Action | Basel III represents bitter, but necessary medicine for banks.
Our place in Asia
| Phil Ruthven
Phil Ruthven | Australia is one of the slowest growing nations in Asia and has to be realistic about which sectors it should support.
Europe swimming, may avoid sinking
| Chris Richardson
Chris Richardson | The sticky tape holding Europe together is getting stronger, but there are still big problems to address.
Holding down the house
| Phil Ruthven
Phil Ruthven | Some say we have a legal but not a legitimate federal government as a result of the 2010 election.
Bonds off the boil
| SHANE OLIVERDouble-digit returns for bonds in 2011 won’t be repeated, and their value as an investment should be reconsidered, AMP’s chief economist warns.
Work, outsource, relax
| Phil Ruthven
Phil Ruthven | People are working longer hours on some measures, but the farming out of household chores has freed up time.
Keep European negatives in perspective
| Chris Richardson
Chris Richardson | The year has begun with more horror headlines – and understandably so, given that a giant sword labelled ‘Europe’ hangs over the world economy.