by Stephen Roberts | 19 Oct, 2020 | Economic Weekly, Market Commentary
So far, Australia’s economic recovery from deep recession is progressing better than forecast widely even just a month ago. There are still concerns however that the better-than-expected initial improvement cannot last as income support measures step down crimping...
by Stephen Roberts | 12 Oct, 2020 | Economic Weekly, Laminar Economist Stephen Roberts, Market Commentary
Australia’s post-covid 19 economic recovery stands a fair chance of being strong and sustained thanks to the initial government fiscal stimulus provided back in March plus the additional stimulus announced last week in the 2020-21 Federal Budget. How much economic...
by Stephen Roberts | 5 Oct, 2020 | Economic Weekly, Laminar Economist Stephen Roberts, Market Commentary
Risk assets mostly fell in September reflecting a return to rising covid-19 infection rates and some restrictions in the US and Europe as well as rising international trade tensions with China and a stand-off between President Trump and Congress halting US...
by Stephen Roberts | 28 Sep, 2020 | Economic Weekly, Market Commentary
Signs of a bounce up in economic activity from the depths of the Covid-19 recession proliferated in September in most countries and regions. Stronger economic readings and surveys for August and September occurred despite rising Covid-19 infection rates in many...
by Stephen Roberts | 21 Sep, 2020 | Economic Weekly, Laminar Economist Stephen Roberts, Market Commentary
Last week we wrote about signs of economic resilience in Q3 with surprisingly strong increases in retail sales and housing activity in July at the start of Q3. Then came the biggest upside surprise so far, the August labour force report, showing a 111,000 rise in...
by Stephen Roberts | 14 Sep, 2020 | Economic Weekly, Laminar Economist Stephen Roberts, Market Commentary
After the shock of the 7.0% q-o-q GDP fall in Q2, the chances of a widely forecast third consecutive quarterly GDP fall in Q3 are receding. The economy is showing resilience, notwithstanding the economic damage from the late-July imposition of stage 3/4 lock-downs in...
