Digital Finance Analytics (DFA) Blog

Sometimes, we see clearer looking in on another economy, and the dynamics in Canada are mirroring Australia, and New Zealand, so when the Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem discussed the latest Monetary Policy and decision, it was relevant more broadly. They held target for the overnight rate at 5% and warned that while rates … Continue reading "Rate Pause Perhaps, But Not A Cut Anytime Soon In Canada!"

The Australian Government has directed the ACCC to conduct an inquiry into Australia’s supermarket sector, including the pricing practices of the supermarkets and the relationship between wholesale, including farmgate, and retail prices. The year-long inquiry will also examine competition in the supermarket sector and how it has changed since the ACCC’s last inquiry in 2008. … Continue reading "Yet More Probes Into The Great Supermarket Rip-off!"

Lots of noise this week about the revamped stage 3 tax cuts. It’s worth remembering first that 2 in five Australians pay no tax because they do not earn enough, so this is change is certainly not going to impact every household. Anthony Albanese had repeatedly committed to delivering stage 3 as legislated by the … Continue reading "Stage 3 Tax Revamp: A Speck In The Ocean?"

The latest forward view of Australian Wholesale Energy Prices out to 2027 show prices for East Coast consumption will remain at nose-bleed levels out as far as 2027, according to data from the Australian Energy market. There is a reason for this, in that marginal wholesale power prices are remarkably set based on the cost … Continue reading "Government Policy Makes Households Pay through The Nose For Energy!"

This is an edited version of a live discussion as I discuss the thorny issue of getting on (and staying on) the property ladder – if indeed that concept has any meaning these days with Veronica Morgan. Veronica Morgan is the Founder and Principal of Good Deeds Property Buyers. She is also the co-host of … Continue reading "DFA Live Q&A HD Replay: The Property Ladder Conundrum With Veronica Morgan"

Well, finally, the problems in Australian high-rise construction are getting airtime, but many households are caught up with these rolling disasters, as estimates suggest well more than half of recently built apartments are defective. It frankly remains a game of “Russian roulette” when buying off-the-plan apartments and consumers could be forgiven for asking themselves if … Continue reading "Wanted: More High-Rise Purchases Willing To Play Russian Roulette!"

Our latest review of the latest property market, as the new year gets into gear. According to the WeeChats, “buy now”, but on the other hand, listings in Melbourne continues to build. But things are not that straight forward. Perhaps we should review “Three Monkeys And An Elephant”, to misquote two parables… http://www.martinnorth.com/ Go to … Continue reading "Its Edwin’s Monday Evening Property Rant!"

We got the latest on New Zealand Property for December 2023 from the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand. I love how they spin the release, saying that the December 2023 figures show a notable increase in sales activity, median prices lifting, lower days to sell, and a clear sense of more confidence overall (year-on-year). … Continue reading "Kiwi Home Prices Wobble!"

I get very tired of the high-level reporting of home prices, because as you know I believe we have many discrete markets, which are behaving very differently across locations, states and types of property. Averages mask. But in some areas, prices are indeed continuing to drop. And drop fast.For example, in my old stomping ground, … Continue reading "Actually, In Some Areas Home Prices Are Falling!"

This is our latest weekly market update. Well, in another volatile week, the S&P 500 posted a record high close on Friday of 4839.81 for the first time in two years erasing the last of a nearly 25 per cent between its record high close of 4,796.56 on Jan. 3, 2022 and its low in … Continue reading "Record Broken After A 25% Round Trip!"