While interest rates may need to fall a bit further, green shoots of recovery suggest we are at or near the low and more importantly, point to an improvement in economic and profit growth over a 12 month horizon, according to Dr Shane Oliver, Chief Economist from AMP.
The Asian Financial Forum last month brought together 1200 business leaders from throughout the Asia Pacific region and addressed many of the economic opportunities and issues that matter.
Reading the newspaper, one could be forgiven for thinking that the Australian Mining economy had stopped cold.
Following consecutive cuts in April and May, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) left the overnight cash rate unchanged at 3.50% in July and in August.
After the Federal Treasurer’s rhetoric on his Government being the government for small and medium business, the Federal Budget delivered on 8 May 2012 is remarkable in that if contains no new meaningful support to businesses that are not loss making.
Following an eventful 18 months in the Courts fighting taxpayers over disputes regarding the effectiveness & legitimacy of distributions by trustees (Bamford’s case), the Tax Office has announced new compliance measures for trustees of discretionary trusts in relation to 2012 trust distributions.
Quarter 1 of 2012 brought mixed messages in Australia, with two months of strength, followed by a weaker March.
The fourth quarter of 2011 was rather lackluster, with Australia declining in confidence and market strength on the equity, commodity and property fronts into year-end.
Disciplinary action from the investigations into corruption in our State and Local Governments littered the press recently, with many Councils and State Government Departments now under increasing internal and external scrutiny over contracts awarded and gifts received.
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