But Australian Jobs Market Still Strong
In Australia though, it's a very different story: the economy might be slowing, but it is not contracting.
In Australia though, it's a very different story: the economy might be slowing, but it is not contracting.
Taiwan yesterday became the third major Asian economy to reveal a package of economic stimulatory measures within the past two weeks.
Yes, 2007-08 was a record year for mining and mining exports, but the sinking Australian dollar has thrown in a big spanner into prospects for 2009.
The Australian market has received a mixed lead, with Wall Street up while oil, gold and silver were down again. Yesterday local banks finished mixed despite heavy losses on Wall Street as the US investment bank Lehman was thought facing difficulties. Analysts said the market was volatile, heavy and irrational.
The ASX 200 is down 53 underperforming the 13 point rise suggested by the SFE Futures this morning. BHP and RIO slightly down after solid rises in materials and energy stocks in the US last night. Financials are down 2.1% with continued credit crisis concerns among major US institutions. Banks all down about 2-3%.
Struggling US investment bank, Lehman Brothers says its third quarter loss will be a much worse than expected $US3.9 billion ($A4.87 billion).
Well, the leak last week in the official Chinese media was spot on: China's inflation rate at the consumer level continues to soften and is now running about equal to ours in Australia.