Archive for 'Interest Rates'
Some Gloom ... Yet More Glee!
Posted on 30. Jun, 2010 by Chris Lang.
The US Federal Reserve is concerned that consumption is still being underpinned by government funding.
And so, even though stimulus measures may be winding down ... the Fed has decided to maintain interest rates at their historically low level.
It seems that households and businesses are preferring to repay debt, rather than spend to encourage investment [...]
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Interest Rates Looking Forward
Posted on 03. Jun, 2010 by Chris Lang.
... and Commercial Property
This week's decision by the RBA to leave the cash rate on hold was an easy one — mainly because the major banks had basically helped it out, by increasing their rates earlier by a greater margin.
The RBA's view was that the current rate of 4.5% was "appropriate for the near term". [...]
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Distortion Guaranteed?
Posted on 20. May, 2010 by Chris Lang.
While the Rudd government may have moved quickly to provide guarantees for the major Banks during a financial turmoil ... the impact of doing so has been disastrous for borrowers.
Right now, these major Banks seem to account for virtually 80% of all owner-occupier loans for property.
As such, the margins they are charging have never been [...]
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Is Negative Gearing for You?
Posted on 13. May, 2010 by Chris Lang.
Buying and negatively gearing a Commercial investment property is not forever in one — particularly, with interest rates on the rise.
And if you already have high personal debt ... adding to that wouldn't be a smart move on your part.
Make Borrowing just one of your Tools
ny gearing you decide to take on, should be viewed [...]
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Interest Rate Rises ...
Are they a Good Sign?
Posted on 05. May, 2010 by Chris Lang.
The RBA's decision on interest rates yesterday came about because of what's happening here in Australia, rather than in Europe.
It has been made against the backdrop of our exporters having recently extracted massive price hikes for iron or in coal, as a result of China's strong growth.
Since the global turmoil started in 2008, the $A [...]
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Will Interest Rates Affect
Commercial Yields?
Posted on 07. Apr, 2010 by Chris Lang.
Yesterday, the RBA confirmed an upward bias with its latest rate increase.
This table from today's Financial Review seems to sum up the RBA's position fairly well.
Residential property prices are still surging (particularly in Sydney & Melbourne); and our commodity exports have also regained their momentum.
As such, the RBA has decided that Australia is in full [...]
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Retail Returns to Favour
Posted on 31. Mar, 2010 by Chris Lang.
Retail property has had some press coverage of late.
It has shown a surprising improvement, given global events and the hike in interest rates.
Westfield (a good retail barometer) reported a strong mid-year result from its Australian shopping centres.
As you can see from the table, Vacancy rates have fallen significantly and Yields firmed — particularly within the [...]
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Election Year Blues?
Posted on 11. Mar, 2010 by Chris Lang.
It's not just rising interest rates that the Rudd government will have to contend with, in the run-up to the next election.
The joy of the resources boom restarting brings with it certain unwanted side effects. What you will start to see is wage rate increases; plus the drawing away of materials and equipment, from other [...]
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Was the RBA Asleep at the Wheel?
Posted on 04. Mar, 2010 by Chris Lang.
In fact, the RBA has been cautious ... NOT asleep!
Last week, we covered the statistical anomaly relating to Australia's low unemployment figure. And that may well have influenced the RBA in holding rates steady last month.
Although, the patchy spending in December and January probably coloured their thinking as well.
Nonetheless, you continue to see a [...]
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Your Opportunities Moving Forward?
Posted on 21. Jan, 2010 by Chris Lang.
There has been much written already about the global financial crisis.
But in layman's terms, it occurred as a result of capital imbalances occurring throughout the world. And nowhere more so, than in America.
The principal cause can be found with the high levels of US debt-funded consumption. And in order to better understand this distortion, you [...]
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Biggest Economic Threat For Australia
Posted on 13. Jan, 2010 by Chris Lang.
It might surprise you to hear this, however ...
A Strong US Recovery
... would probably be the worst thing to happen for Australia in 2010.
If that occurs, the US Federal Reserve would be forced to quickly raise interest rates, from zero to around 3%. And that would cause the collapse in the Australian dollar from its [...]
