Economy

NZ government proposes insurance scheme for workers with job loss, s...

Highlights The NZ government plans to introduce a new insurance scheme. The scheme is for workers who lose their jobs. The Scheme is likely to su...

Australia seeks to join EU's trade row talks against China

Trade Minister Dan Tehan said on Saturday that Australia will seek to join the World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks over a trade dispute between China...

Banks expect Fed to raise benchmark rate by 50 bps in March

Highlight The world’s top investment banks expect multiple interest rate hikes this year. The Federal Reserve hopes to bring down the inflat...

US GDP grew 6.9% in fourth quarter of 2021, fastest growth in decade...

Highlights The growth rate is expected to slow down in 2022 on weak consumer spending, supply issues. Household spending and efforts to rebuild de...

Should global markets worry over Fed’s interest rate plans?

Highlights The US Fed intends to increase interest rates in the coming months amid strong labour market conditions and high inflation. As rate hik...

NZ Inflation at a record high, what should RBNZ do?

Inflation has hit a record 5.9% at the end of 2021, according to figures released by Statistics New Zealand on Thursday. Consumer prices are rising at...

Online Safety Bill: 7 points to note

Highlights  The Online Safety Bill is a proposed Act in the United Kingdom to enhance the safety net around internet. The Digital, Culture, M...

Are global markets headed towards a crash in 2022?

Highlights A superbubble is created when prices of several asset classes go through the roof simultaneously. Finally, the time has come for centra...

Key US economic growth index rises strongly in December: Report

Highlights The GDP will grow at an annualized rate of 2.2% in the first quarter, while the full-year growth rate is likely to be 3.5% year, the rep...

How would inflation further affect sectors? 5 pointers to note

The inflation rate of the UK surged unexpectedly to 5.4% in December up from November’s 5.1%, since its highest in 1992, enhancing pressure on t...

US housing starts rise 1.4% in December despite cost, supply trouble...

Highlights Supply problems and labor shortages have slowed down construction. The Commerce data showed housing starts increased by 1.4% to a seas...

UK inflation surges to a 30-year high level: What to expect now?

Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation in the United Kingdom jumped to 5.4% in the final month of 2021. Britain’s inflation rate rose to the highe...

Is COVID-19 the main reason for a dip in business confidence among K...

Highlights The Quarterly Survey of Business Opinion shows a decline in business confidence in NZ. Demand has also fallen as the COVID-19 outbreak...

Report: World’s richest got richer during pandemic

A recent report by Oxfam has stated that the world’s 10 richest people have seen their fortune increase by more than double from US$700 billion...

Would Omicron pose any threat to NZ economy?

Highlights New Zealand recorded its first Omicron case in mid-December 2021. Omicron variant has created an uncertainty around the economic situat...

Will RBA follow the US Fed & hike rates?

The US Federal Reserve (US Fed) could start increasing interest rate as early as March 2022 and shrink its balance sheet in response to increasing inf...

Is housing market going to crash in 2022?

Highlights The year 2021 had been one of the best years for housing markets across the globe. The exorbitant rise in housing prices could be major...

IMF- emerging economies must prepare for Fed policy tightening

Highlights What happened in 2021 lays a ground for how the market would react amid a pandemic.  According to the IMF, the coming months look...

Is Australia staring at stagflation in 2022?

Amid changing headwinds, the inflation forecast for Australia remains convoluted as the country enters another year marked with uncertainty. While inf...

How is Omicron likely to impact Australian property prices?

While the COVID-19 pandemic caused significant economic distress last year, Australian property prices still managed to rise by 22%, the sharpest rise...