Digital Finance Analytics (DFA) Blog

The IMF just dropped a bombshell on Australia, saying that Interest rates should be hiked even higher and the Australian governments should slash spending to avoid stoking inflation. And proper tax reform was essential as an optimal tax package for growth and equity should rely more on the GST, take pressure off personal income tax … Continue reading "Put Interest Rates Up, And Reform Taxes Now!"

The NSW government has already announced plans last month to build more than 200,000 homes and focus on higher density living by building up, not out. But now NSW Premier Chris Minns says the state will not meet its housing target, but is doing its best to boost supply. The plan includes 138,000 new homes … Continue reading "Stupid Promises Collide With Reality As Housing Targets Won’t Be Met!"

Economists got a surprise today as employment fell 65,100 in the month, compared with an average expected rise of 15,000, as hours worked and participation both fell. That said, the prospect of the RBA delivering one final rise in February appears over. Only a big surprise in the December quarter inflation numbers, which will be … Continue reading "Falling Trend Hours Worked May Signal Interest Rate Peak!"

This is an edited version of a live discussion with Robbie Barwick from the Citizens party. The Senate will be delivering their report on Regional Banking, and it will be important to ensure access to cash is protected in an era of CBDC. And we need to ensure the Government does not outsource its fiscal … Continue reading "DFA Live Q&A HD Replay: The People Versus Financial Tyranny: With Robbie Barwick"

Another thought provoking chat with our Property Insider Edwin Almeida, as we look at the latest trends and news. Looks like 2024 will be quite a year! http://www.martinnorth.com/ Go to the Walk The World Universe at https://walktheworld.com.au/ Today’s post is brought to you by Ribbon Property Consultants. https://www.ribbonproperty.com.au/

The ABS reported that In November 2023, new loan commitments (seasonally adjusted): rose 1.0% for housing, fell 5.6% for personal fixed term loans, fell 4.8% for business construction (a typically volatile series) and rose 0.6% in trend terms and fell 6.4% for business purchase of property (a typically volatile series) but was flat in trend … Continue reading "Households Spend Less But Borrow More, What Could Possibly Go Wrong?"

Once again, another horrifying sage of dumped asbestos turning up in the wrong place, with potentially fatal consequences. As the Guardian reported, Asbestos has been found in additional samples of garden mulch taken from the Rozelle parklands in Sydney’s inner west, with the state government still unable to say where else in the city the … Continue reading "Child Finds Killer Asbestos In Playground!"

This is our regular weekly market update. Things got interesting this week on the markets, as U.S. stocks closed barely changed on Friday, after wavering between modest gains and losses driven by mixed bank earnings offset cooler-than-expected inflation news that buoyed hopes for interest-rate cuts from the Federal Reserve. After briefly topping 4800 points in … Continue reading "Operation “Uncertainty Protect” As Bets Rises…"

My first Friday chat with Tarric Brooker, Journalist and Chart-Meister. Will recent developments force a replay of the recent inflation crisis and keep rates higher for longer. If so, what are the potential implications politically and economically? His charts are here: https://avidcom.substack.com/p/dfa-chart-pack-12th-january-2024 http://www.martinnorth.com/ Go to the Walk The World Universe at https://walktheworld.com.au/

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics just released their December 2023 inflation read which showed the consumer price index increased 3.4% in the year through December, the most in three months and on a monthly basis, it also rose by more than forecast. The shift up was driven by Americans paying more for housing and … Continue reading "US Inflation Still Hanging Around"