Bonds/Interest Rates

With the current strength in the Leading Indicator growth rate just another positive factor for Australia, another rate hike must be looming.

Australia’s Q4 PPI surprised to the downside, but economists don’t think it will have any impact on RBA policy.

CommSec notes new data from Rismark Australia show Australian housing affordability has actually improved a little since 2003 thanks to rising incomes levels.

Consumer confidence in Australia remains “very strong” into the new calendar year, reports Westpac.

Saxo Bank has delivered its annual list of outrageous claims for the year ahead while also offering its top trade ideas for 2010.

Australia’s inofficial inflation gauge from TD securities-MI showed a 0.3% rise in December.

The Australian labour market ended last year on a high note, beating expectations by a mile and making a February rate hike look even more likely.

Stronger than expected Australian labour force data in December is seen as adding to pressure on the Reserve Bank of Australia to lift interest rates next month.

After the volatility of 2009 this year should be a transition period according to Russell Investments, which offers its view on a number of asset classes for the year ahead.

The Peoples Bank of China has increased its deposit reserve requirement ratio, kicking off a monetary tightening process.