Daily FNArena News

Australian building approval numbers were below consensus for the fourth month in a row leading to predictions of a further 0.75% rate cut early next year.

Qantas has revealed it is in merger discussions with British Airways, but brokers see little to get excited about.

Australian economic growth for the September quarter came in at just 0.1% and economists suggest further rate cuts are coming.

A 1% rate cut wasn’t what brokers were expecting, but it came as little surprise nonetheless.

Recent falls in commodity prices are matching the declines of the Great Depression, with the exception of copper.

Global depression fears are still running wild, but massive policy responses from the world’s governments are finally starting to be felt and a sooner than hoped for recovery is not impossible.

THe RBA has lowered the official cash rate by a further 100 basis points today.

ANZ has lowered its growth outlook for Asia for the coming year, with the South-East better placed at present than the North-East.

November was a good month for uranium spot prices, which rose more than 20% and the demand picture remains solid.

The so-called Santa Claus rally in equities is real according to Barclays Capital’s analysis of monthly trends, while conditions also favour aluminium and the euro.