by Stephen Roberts | 3 Jun, 2013 | Economics, Laminar Economist Stephen Roberts
Risk assets, including credit, were stronger through the first half of May, before suffering a sharp pullback later in the month. The early month strength was assisted by official interest rate reductions in several countries and most notably Australia where the... by Stephen Roberts | 13 May, 2013 | Economics, Laminar Economist Stephen Roberts
The surprise policy move by the RBA last week, cutting the cash rate by 25bp to a record low 2.75% is unusual in that it represents a further easing of an already very accommodating policy setting at a time when there is ample evidence that growth in household... by Stephen Roberts | 9 May, 2013 | Economics, Laminar Economist Stephen Roberts
April employment rose much more strongly than expected, up 50,100 (consensus +11,000) after the fall in March was revised to 31,200 (-36,100 originally) and a revised 71,700 gain in February. Ironing out the lumps and bumps in the monthly data, employment rose an... by Stephen Roberts | 7 May, 2013 | Economics, Laminar Economist Stephen Roberts
Retail sales were weaker than expected in March, falling by 0.4% m-o-m (market consensus forecast +0.1%), although coming after very strong readings in January and February with each month up 1.3% m-o-m. Even with the weaker result in March the volume of retail sales... by Stephen Roberts | 6 May, 2013 | Economics, Laminar Economist Stephen Roberts
Risk assets, including credit, were markedly stronger through April although the trajectory was quite volatile with mixed strength economic readings in the US and Australia, but a softer tone to Asian and European economic readings. During the month, the market’s...