New index of economic marginalisation helps explain Trump, Brexit and alt.right

Jan 14, 2017 07:00 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics Economy

If 2016 brought Brexit, Donald Trump and a backlash against cosmopolitan visions of globalisation and society, the great fear for 2017 is further shocks from right-wing populists like Geert Wilders in Holland and Marine Le...

Central Banking Series

ECB minutes show strong consensus in favour of QE, growing confidence in the blocs recovery

Jan 13, 2017 15:46 pm UTC| Commentary Central Banks Economy

ECB minutes of the December meeting were largely hawkish, but some discord was seen over QE. Some ECB members were against any extension of the institutions mass bond-buying programme as inflation picked up in the euro...

Chart of the Day Series

Chart of the Day: Uncertainties and volatility

Jan 13, 2017 15:05 pm UTC| Commentary Economy

This fantastic chart shared by Soberlook.com shows the relations between Global policy uncertainties and volatility that went hand in hand in the past but diverged since 2014. Currently, the economic policy...

Inflation remains main concern for SARB, tightening bias likely to continue

Jan 13, 2017 15:04 pm UTC| Commentary Economy

Despite weak growth and a stronger exchange rate, South Africas inflation has eased only slightly since its high of 7 percent in February. Inflation remains above South Africas Reserve Banks (SARB) target, stoked by high...

China's rapid loan growth may add pressure on asset prices

Jan 13, 2017 14:56 pm UTC| Commentary Economy

Data released by Chinas central bank on Thursday showed that Chinese banks extended 1.04 trillion yuan ($A201 billion) in net new yuan loans in December, quite contrary to the authorities inclinations to...

We need to find new ways to measure the Australian labour force

Jan 13, 2017 14:35 pm UTC| Insights & Views Economy

Over the last few years, weve seen a massive shift in the way we work. Thousands of Australians have abandoned the traditional 40-hour work week to work fewer hours or take on ad-hoc work, such as driving for Uber or doing...

FOMC members stress on upside risks to U.S. interest rates

Jan 13, 2017 11:21 am UTC| Economy Commentary Central Banks

The U.S. Fed speakers have delivered a hawkish speechoverall, with two out of the four incoming voting members this year (Harker and Evans) suggesting that three quarter-point hikes in rates over the course of 2017 was...