The talk of the town: NAB Business wrap
There’s been a lot for Aussie businesses to talk about recently – from the action on Melbourne’s Chapel Street to where to find the richest retirees. Here’s a selection of recent business insights to help you uncover the opportunities across all business sectors in 2014. Read more
Asian Emerging Economies Update – February 2014
Moderate economic growth continues across the emerging market economies of East Asia (ASEAN, HK, South Korea and Taiwan) with the pace of regional growth quickening from just under 4% yoy in September quarter to 4.3% yoy in December. Read more
Quarterly Australian Commercial Property Survey – Q4, 2013
Sentiment rises further in Q4, with NAB’s Commercial Property Index reaching a 2-year high (but still negative overall). Improvement driven mainly by office and retail, although both segments still under-performing. Sentiment edged up in all states bar Qld and SA/NT. Read more
Rural Commodities Wrap – February 2014
Australia is on track to be the third largest exporter of raw cotton in the world in 2013-14, with forecasts of just under one million tonnes according to the latest Rural Commodities Wrap. The AUD is forecast to track lower which should provide further benefits to exporters. Read more
ASX 300 Quarterly Business Survey – December 2013
Business conditions for larger firms improved significantly in the December quarter – outperforming firms in the broader economy. However, confidence weakened slightly for larger firms – dropping below conditions and breaking away from the exuberance of the broader economy. Read more
China Economic Update – 20 February 2014
Concerns have been raised by the rapid growth in local government liabilities in recent years, with questions around the stability and security of China’s sub-sovereign debt, and the risk that a potential default could trigger a broader financial crisis. Read more
Australian Debt Securities and Corporate Bonds – February 2014
How to add Australian Debt Securities & Corporate Bonds to a portfolio. The fourth research report examining the Australian corporate bond market. In this report we place the Australian market in an international context and speculate on what the future holds for the asset class. Read more
Zero tolerance for bullying in the workplace
Bullying can cause physical and psychological harm to employees and undermine good business. Alex Jenkins of Davidson Trahaire Corpsych suggests ways to create a workplace culture which supports the health and productivity of everyone in the organisation. Read more
Quarterly SME Survey – December 2013
SME business confidence up for a fourth quarter – consistent with increases seen by larger firms. Confidence is finally gaining traction to support business activity, with conditions rising to their highest since mid-2011 – but remain soft. Read more
Motor vehicle headwinds – February 2014
Toyota has announced it would terminate automotive manufacturing operations in Australia by the end of 2017. Ford and General Motors (Holden) previously announced they would close their operations in 2016. The strength of the AUD has weighed heavily on an already struggling industry Read more
US Economic Update – February 2014
Economy still on track despite fall in manufacturing ISM and another weak jobs report. Following GDP growth of 1.9% in 2013 we are forecasting GDP will grow by 2.8% in 2014 and 2.9% in 2015. Inflation remains well below Fed’s 2% objective. Read more
How to recruit the best people for your business
Finding and keeping the right people is fundamental to the success of any business. Gavin O’Meara, Manager of People and Culture at Ramsay Health Care, explains how planning, preparation and ongoing support can help you build an engaged and productive team. Read more
