Daily FNArena News

It was a rollicking ride for the Dow last night on mixed earnings reports, but across the Atlantic the Bank of England shocked markets. And there was more.

TD Securities hosted an economic forum on Thursday featuring a key-note address from the chief economist at S&P, and a panel of economic experts. The discussion was nothing if not lively.

Stronger than expected retail sales figures support the RBA’s rate hike but leads Merrill Lynch to suggest the market is pricing too much growth into retail stocks.

Several brokers have recently cut their alumina price forecasts, now Deutsche forecasts an onerous period of market adjustment.

National Australia Bank has released its June quarter survey of business confidence, noting recent rate increases have seen confidence fall as concerns grow about the economic outlook both domestically and globally.

The market is now factoring in a further increase in interest rates before Christmas, so Commonwealth Bank has looked at the potential implications of such a move.

Weekly musings from your editor.

Forget higher petrol prices. Australians still spent happily in June.

The Reserve Bank has delivered a further rate increase, but the market is split as to whether we are now at the top of the rate cycle.

Average land prices in Japan have risen for the first time in 14 years, which could add to the pressure for further increases in interest rates.