Digital Finance Analytics (DFA) Blog

I caught up with Robbie Barwick from the Australian Citizens Party to review the recent hearings into Regional Bank Branch closures, and more broadly about the progress made this year. We look at the underlying issues which have been brought to the surface through the inquiry, and consider what happens next. And here is the … Continue reading "A Significant Year Of Breakthroughs… With Robbie Barwick!"

Another dose of truth from our property insider, Edwin Almedia. In today’s show we look at the November property price moves, the falling listings, and the claims agents are making for more pay. We also warn about the risks in high-rise apartments, and how to select an agent. http://www.martinnorth.com/ Go to the Walk The World … Continue reading "Its Edwin’s Monday Evening Property Rant!"

More evidence from the Senate last week, concerning the impact of bank branch closures. The Small Business Ombudsman calls out what is wrong with the current system, and why small business is being degraded. He makes a strong case for significant change! This is the fourth segment following the recent hearings in Canberra in the … Continue reading "Many Banks Are Torpedoing Small Businesses!"

This is our weekly market update. As always we start in the US, cover oil and gold, as well as treasuries, and then move through Europe and Asia before we cover Australian developments and crypto. A succinct summary of the weeks events. A searing late-year rally has brought the S&P 500 to a fresh 2023 … Continue reading "Santa Rally Incoming?"

This is the third in a series of posts following the recent hearings in Canberra as the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee heard from Dale Webster, from The Regional. She and I wrote to the Committee to get this inquiry up and running. On Friday 1st December 2023 the Senate took … Continue reading "More Compelling Evidence Relating To Bank Branch Closures…"

This is the second in a series of posts following the recent hearings in Canberra as the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee heard from Robbie Barwick and co who presented the case for a public bank. On Friday 1st December 2023 the Senate took evidence in Canberra relating to bank branch … Continue reading "More Compelling Evidence About Regional Branch Closures…"

On Friday 1st December 2023 the Senate took evidence in Canberra relating to bank branch closures. This is the first of a series of posts which presents some of the important evidence, as the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee heard from the Licenced Post Office Group (LPO). https://www.aph.gov.au/News_and_Events/Watch_Read_Listen/ParlView/video/1960695 More to come … Continue reading "Compelling Evidence About Bank Branch Closures…"

The Centrals Bankers’ love in in Hong Kong this week was full of contradictions. Indeed, yesterday I featured the RBA’s new Governors comments, centered around her view households were largely coping ok with the 4.25% hike in rates. My reaction was how out of touch with real households she sounded. The International Monetary Fund this … Continue reading "Have Central Banks Done Enough To Grip Inflation?"

The Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee held the Official Cash Rate at 5.5% Wednesday in Wellington. This was as expected by most economists. But the central bank has been spooked by stronger near-term growth that’s being driven by the return of international students and immigrants after the pandemic. As a result, there was a significant … Continue reading "Kiwi’s Yet To See Higher Rates Thanks To Migration?"

At a gathering of central bankers in Hong Kong on Tuesday, RBA Governor, Michelle Bullock claimed that household finances in Australia are holding up well, despite 4.25% of rate hikes. The rookie RBA governor appears even more out of touch than her predecessor. “Households and businesses in Australia are actually in a pretty good position. … Continue reading "Everything Is Fine Boys… Honest!"