Entries Tagged as 'government'
The 2013 Federal Budget, the Australian Economy and Gold
May 20th, 2013 · 30 Comments
For the last few years I have been warning that steps needed to be taken to prepare the Australian economy for when the commodities cycles would turn downwards. Back when I first started writing about this, it was almost considered treason to even suggest the mining boom may draw to a close. But these days even the RBA, Treasury and Wayne Swan are talking about the end of the commodities boom.
Gold versus S&P 500 – Where is the Value?
March 30th, 2013 · 30 Comments
This past week we received the final 4th Quarter GDP number which came in at 0.39%. The total 4th Quarter growth was terrible, plain and simple. Based on the performance in the equity markets that we have seen thus far in the 1st Quarter of 2013 investors would expect strong GDP growth. However, the only thing spurring stock market growth is the constant humming of Ben Bernanke’s printing press.
Japan’s leaders must see the need for sustaining a fiscal Big Bang
February 1st, 2013 · 1 Comment
With Japan’s stock market surging even before Prime Minister Shinzo Abe unveiled his plans for economic stimulus, we would have expected the usual anti-stimulus critics to be silent, at least for a while. But no. Already we hear the usual complaints — more printing of money, more public debt, more baramake (waste) and so on.
Signs that a Correction Maybe Near in the SPX, RUT & DJIA
January 24th, 2013 · 1 Comment
The great market prognosticators have by now came out with their 2013 predictions about financial markets. It seems to me to be a fool’s game to try to predict what financial markets are going to do in the future. I want to be clear in stating that I do not know what is going to happen in the future. I do not know where the S&P 500 Index is going to trade tomorrow let alone 6 months from now. Most market pundits simply will not admit to this fact.
BHP Billiton, Commonwealth Bank, & Telstra 2012 Charts Review
January 15th, 2013 · 2 Comments
Today I am going to review the 1 year performance of three ASX listed blue-chip stocks namely: the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX:CBA) BHP Billiton (ASX:BHP) and Telstra Corporation (ASX:TLS) to get a feel for how these large companies within the S&P/ASX 200 Index fared during 2012. Does the performance of these stocks give us any indication of how the wider stock market may fare in 2013 and if so, are these stocks worth watching over the next 12 months?
Australian Economic and Market Indicators – November 2012
November 12th, 2012 · 24 Comments
Finally it seems the Reserve Bank of Australia and Treasury have had to accept that the mining boom has peaked or is peaking, which is something I have been talking about on this site for some years. However the RBA, Treasury and Gillard Government all still appear to be relatively upbeat about the outlook for the Australian economy next year which is surprising, since I don’t see a lot to be optimistic about as I review the stock market, housing market or a few other economic indicators.
There’s Still Money to Be Made in Australian Resources
September 25th, 2012 · 2 Comments
The apparent end of the biggest resource boom in a century in Australia, occasionally called China’s commodity quarry, has drawn downbeat forecasts from politicians and analysts, but there are some indications that signal all is not over for the lucky country.
Economics of austerity don’t add up
August 30th, 2012 · 9 Comments
Do Europe’s budget-cutting austerity-minded planners understand simple math? They say they have to embrace austerity policies to reduce excessive national debt. But those policies inevitably cut tax revenues more than they cut spending. National debt increases rather than decreases. Worse, recovery from the economic downturns they create then forces them to ease the original spending cuts. So the national debt situation gets even worse. Japan during its two decades of economic stagnation was the poster-child model for this economic folly in action.
Have Diamonds Lost Their Sparkle?
June 11th, 2012 · 1 Comment
Last week was a glittering week for diamonds. As preparations for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee were underway in London, the Martian Pink, a 12.04 carat diamond, went under the hammer at a record HK$135 million (US$17 million) at a Christie’s Hong Kong jewellery sale.
Are Australian stocks poised to trend lower?
May 8th, 2012 · 36 Comments
There is nothing particularly exciting about the Australian stock market these days. The malaise which has essentially paralysed the government seems to have spread to the business sector which in turn is slowly sucking the lifeblood out of the share market. It’s unlikely that things will improve soon and so investors should prepare themselves for the market to move lower over the next few months.
Gillard’s last stand & Wonky Wayne and the Budget Factory.
April 25th, 2012 · 30 Comments
Foolishly during Kevin Rudd’s Australia 2020 Summit a few years ago I thought that the political circus in Canberra couldn’t get any more ridiculous. Sadly I was wrong. The Gillard led government is now doing its very best to destroy what little respect the public have left for politicians and Wayne Swan is sure to produce another work of economic & finance fiction – the 2012 Federal Budget.
Stock charts review: BHP, RIO, GMI, GFF, S&P/ASX 200 Financials & Small Ordinaries Index.
April 13th, 2012 · 1 Comment
Australian stocks seem to be enjoying a broad rally today and I suspect the mainstream financial media will churn out bullish sounding headlines when the market closes. But if we step back and review a few charts it’s pretty clear that the Australian stock market is stuck in a rut and I don’t see it breaking free any time soon.
Mongolia Rivals Australia to Supply China’s Resources Demand.
April 3rd, 2012 · 6 Comments
One of the world’s largest countries, sparsely populated, with extensive minerals in its remote hinterland deserts. Sound like Australia? This is Mongolia. On the cusp of an investment boom, fuelled by Chinese demand for resources and driven by Mongolia’s position just to the north of China’s industrial heartlands. Mongolia’s economy, like Australia’s, has defied the global gloom.
Has the economic boom in Australia been managed into a bust?
March 12th, 2012 · 23 Comments
According to many experts, Australia is in the midst of a mining boom and the government often tells us that the Australian economy is performing better than most if not all, of the world’s major developed economies. Certainly the commodities boom has delivered record profits for many companies, generated massive tax revenues for the federal and state governments plus created many thousands of jobs.
Stock Charts Review: ASX All Ords, CBA, PPT, AGK, GMI & GOLD.
March 4th, 2012 · 2 Comments
So far this year the Australian stock market had managed to edge slowly upwards and the All Ordinaries Index appears poised to settle above 4400 during the next week or so. Although the risks of a major Eurozone economic implosion appear to be fading, the signs are that the economy in China continues to slow and it appears the U.S. economy is still struggling. The situation in China in particular is likely to have a major impact on where the Australian stock market heads next over the following few months.
