Daily FNArena News - Australia

It looks like Australian employers’ demand for new recruits is waning after an extended period of very strong demand for labour.

The RBA currently has issues with which it has to “grapple”, noted Glenn Stevens, as retail sales figures slide.

Credit growth in Australia has continued to slow since peaking in December but Macquarie suggests it isn’t slowing fast enough to prevent the RBA from again lifting interest rates.

Insurance Australia Group will buy back $200m in resetting preference shares in June and brokers suggest this may pressure its dividends.

The takeover panel has blocked Shougang’s 19.7% stake in Mt Gibson Iron.

The RBA this afternoon chose to leave the cash rate at 7.25%.

Brokers agree Solly Lew’s bid for Just Group is opportunistic and undervalued.

Were Australia’s as yet robust housing market to follow the US into a slump, one mortgage lender has created a new product that may interest the cautious mortgage holder.

February saw another reduction in personal credit while overall private credit growth is the lowest in five years.

The TD Securities – Melbourne Institute Monthly Inflation Gauge for March shows Australian inflationary pressures have not eased.