Archived News for Finance Sector Professionals - March, 2013
The Financial Services Council (FSC) has tracked a significant rebound in the amount of contributions made to APRA regulated superannuation funds in the December 2012 quarter.
Business confidence slips
Business confidence and conditions have both edged down in February, with a high Aussie dollar and weak performance of non-mining demand weighing heavily on most sectors.
Consumer confidence continues rally
Consumer confidence has continued to build on previous gains, posting a 2.0 per cent increase in March from 108.3 in February to 110.5 per cent in March in the Westpac Melbourne Institute Index of Consumer Sentiment.
Online retailers dodge doldrums
Online retailers have dodged the traditionally lacklustre January post to post a 27 per cent annual growth to $13 billion for the 12 months to January 2013.
CommBank promises consumer insights
The Commonwealth Bank has announced it will draw on the country’s largest pool of information on consumer spending patterns to with the launch of its new consumer insights platform.
CAD drops finds ABS
The latest ABS figures show that in seasonally adjusted, current price terms, the current account deficit fell $370m (2 per cent) to $14,678m in the December quarter 2012. Exports of goods and services rose $734m (1 per cent) and imports of goods and services rose $897m (1 per cent). The primary income deficit fell $518m (6 per cent).
GDP hits 3.1 per cent target
Latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures show that GDP, in seasonally adjusted volume terms, grew 0.6 per cent in the December quarter 2012.
Retail up by 0.9 per cent
The latest ABS Retail Trade figures show that Australian retail turnover rose 0.9 per cent in January 2013, seasonally adjusted, following a fall of 0.4 per cent in December 2012.
Dwelling approves remains weak finds ABS
ABS Building Approvals show that the number of dwellings approved fell 2.4 per cent in January 2013, in seasonally adjusted terms, and has fallen for two months.
Inflation remains flat
Inflation levels have remained relatively flat in February, according to the TD Securities – Melbourne Institute Monthly Inflation Gauge.
Job ads stabalise
The job ad market is showing tentative signs of life, according to the latest monthly statistics released by the ANZ bank.
Rinehart's fortunes grow
Gina Rinehart, Australia’s richest citizen, is now the richest woman in the Asia-Pacific region, and is well on her way to becoming the richest woman in the world according to Forbes Magazine.