Digital Finance Analytics (DFA) Blog
"Intelligent Insight"
We recently posted Out and About in Wollongong featuring the Jolly Swagman, in which we examined the state of the local economy. The show was supported by some excellent research from Mitchell Grande, a recent Graduate of Politics, Philosophy, Economics (Honours) at the University of Wollongong – concerned with Australian public policy, and especially energy policy. … Continue reading “Out And About In Wollongong”
Here’s the boldest idea the government’s inquiry into retirement incomes should consider but might not: no longer exempting all of the value of each retiree’s home from the pension assets test. Via The Conversation. The test would merely exempt part of the value of retirees’ homes. The change would free-up funds to support other retirees … Continue reading “A Way to Include Homes in the Age Pension Assets Test”
Fitch Ratings says residential mortgage loans in Scandinavia, the Netherlands and Switzerland have seen exceptionally strong performance despite high loan-to-value (LTV) ratios and significant household debt. This reflects generous social security systems and large household wealth, which are a common denominator of these ‘AAA’ rated jurisdictions with strong public finances. The growth of housing debt … Continue reading “Scandinavian, Dutch and Swiss Mortgage Performance”
Consistent with the DFA surveys on household financial confidence the latest survey via ME Bank says: Australian households are feeling overall worse about their net wealth, jobs, income and living expenses with further significant residential property price falls over the past six months and a weakening labour market, ME’s latest Household Financial Comfort Report has … Continue reading “ME Says Household Financial Comfort Falls”
The fall in interest rates and an easing of lending standards will “breathe life” into the property market, but not without consequences, according to Moody’s Analytics, via The Adviser. Financial intelligence agency Moody’s Analytics has released its Second Quarter 2019 Housing Forecast Report, in which it has noted its outlook for the Australian housing market. … Continue reading “Credit resurgence could have ‘undesirable’ impact”
From The Conversation. Homelessness has increased greatly in Australian capital cities since 2001. Almost two-thirds of people experiencing homelessness are in these cities, with much of the growth associated with severely crowded dwellings and rough sleeping. Homelessness in major cities, especially severe crowding, has risen disproportionately in areas with a shortage of affordable private rental … Continue reading “Homelessness soars in our biggest cities”
The New Zealand Reserve Bank has released its May Financial Stability Report The New Zealand financial system remains resilient to a broad range of economic risks. However, financial system risks remain elevated, and ongoing effort is necessary to bolster system soundness and efficiency. Domestically, debt levels are high in the household and dairy sectors, leaving … Continue reading “RBNZ Says Financial Risks Remain Elevated”
Domain has released their March quarter 2019 house price data. Sydney, Melbourne and Perth are bearing the brunt of the falls, alongside units in Brisbane, according to their statistics. Hobart remains the most buoyant but buyer interest appears to have passed its peak . And of course remember these are average figures which mask local … Continue reading “Domain Reports More Price Falls”
Welcome to the Property Imperative weekly to the sixteenth of February 2019 – our digest of the latest finance and property news with a distinctively Australian flavour. Watch the video, listen to the podcast, or read the transcript. The data fest continued this week, with more evidence of weaknesses appearing in the global economy, … Continue reading “Lines In The Sand – The Property Imperative Weekly 16 February 2019”
RBA Governor Philip Lowe, addressed the National Press Club today, providing an upbeat assessment of the economy. He was even money on the next rate move, but interestingly he blamed lack of supply of housing not credit supply, or low interest rates for high home prices. He believes wages will rise, eventually. And finally he … Continue reading “RBA “Even Money” On Rate Rise Or Rate Fall”