A new-found conservatism in Treasury estimates means the economy could grow faster than expected, especially if the Australian dollar continues to fall. Former Labor economic adviser Stephen Koukoulas comments.
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AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR
Follow Crikey’s latest coverage of the Australian dollar. Crikey’s Australian dollar coverage includes independent news, blogs and commentary.
Steady as she goes from a slightly more optimistic RBA
The RBA, while cautious, sees growth returning to trend in 2014, an outcome a falling dollar will help bring about, write Crikey’s Glenn Dyer and Bernard Keane.
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RBA guns the economic engines as govt applies the brakes
Yesterday’s surprise rate cut is designed to address both the strong dollar and a domestic economy struggling as governments slash spending, say Crikey writers Glenn Dyer and Bernard Keane.
READ MOREWho’s afraid of inflation? Today’s CPI figures are benign — again
More benign inflation data shows “cost of living” complaints are unfounded, and gives the RBA some room to move rates downward. Glenn Dyer and Bernard Keane look at the numbers.
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Is another dollar-induced, Italian-inspired rate cut coming?
The Reserve Bank has flagged that there may be further interest rate cuts in response to the strong dollar. In the strongest possible terms, report Glenn Dyer and Bernard Keane.
READ MOREA Geert Wilders supporter responds
Crikey readers weigh in on the issues of the day.
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Why we should be cheering on the US Federal Reserve
With momentum against further quantitative easing building, the dollar’s long run above parity might finally be near an end, with some nudging.
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The currency wars: how the mighty A$ is quietly shaping politics
The strong A$ is the elephant in the room of Australian politics, although Wayne Swan is now paying more attention to the productivity challenge posed by the currency wars. What can he really do about the gold-plated dollar?
READ MOREUS interest rates likely to rise this year; a godsend for Australia
The days of quantitative easing in the US are rapidly approaching their end date, which is good news for the Aussie dollar.
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Jobs market holding up like a punch-drunk boxer
Uemployment is steady at 5.4%, data out today shows. All eyes are now on the Aussie dollar, to see if it will continue to drift downwards — to the aid of a sluggish economy.
READ MOREForget the PIGS, it’s the UK really infecting Europe
Australia’s dollar is holding steady amid better news out of Europe. But the real worry now is Britain, where a return to recession is now a dangerously real possibility.
READ MOREAsk the economists: will Santa be kind to the economy for 2013?
With global economic forces looking threatening, what will 2013 bring for the Australian economy? Crikey intern Alex Burgess asks the economists to cast their predictions for the new year.
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RBA targets ‘spillover’ from central banks for strong dollar
The Reserve Bank has identified “spillover” from quantitative easing as a key concern as the Australian dollar climbs higher. Glenn Dyer and Bernard Keane report on the danger.
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The RBA must act on the dollar
The Reserve Bank has no choice but to join the currency debasement contest that’s now going on around the world, and to cut rates by another 1% in the coming 12 months.
READ MOREThe currency interventionists rally, but to what end?
There’s a growing push for the RBA to lower the dollar, but it would be fighting against irresistible forces, write Glenn Dyer and Bernard Keane.
READ MOREThe Immigration Department’s language policy
Crikey readers have their say.
READ MOREWhy the Aussie dollar keeps its ‘stickiness’
The Aussie dollar hit a low of just over 95 US cents in May, but this morning traded at well over $US1.05, a gain of 10.5%.
READ MOREAsk the economists: what’s driving the $A rise against the euro?
The Australian dollar hit a record high of around 85 euro cents overnight, as investors continue to flee the debt-stricken euro zone. So what’s driving the Aussie’s rise?
READ MORETaking advantage of the Aussie dollar’s purchasing power
Crikey readers have their say.
READ MOREChina, Europe and US reinforce strength of Oz economy
If we ever needed confirmation of just how strong the outlook for the Australian economy is, we had it last night.
READ MOREIs UK stimulus package a pointer to nerves over Greece?
Has the £140b stimulus package announced in London confirmed rumours that central banks are on standby to take action to stabilise nervy financial markets this weekend as Greece goes to the polls?
READ MORERBA hints at more economic pressures as $A hits US parity
The Australian dollar dropped through parity with the US currency today for the first time in nearly five months.
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RBA forecasts point to a soft economy, no real growth
The Reserve Bank has cut its forecasts for economic growth and inflation for the next year to 18 months.
READ MOREAustralia-China currency swap really is a big deal
China has reached agreements on swaps with about 20 countries, but Australia is the biggest and most advanced economy to sign up.
READ MOREOur dollar goes down … when it should be rising
Slowing but surely, the Australian dollar is losing value at a time when it should be rising. There’s a very real chance it could dip under parity with the US dollar.
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