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Home Loans
Economic outlook improving
The Governor of the Reserve Bank Glenn Stevens has stated that he is glad that he did not have to cut interest rates to zero per cent, and that Australia's medium term prospects were looking good and that rates would rise.
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Home Loans
Rate rise could hurt first home buyers
The opposition has stated that increases in interest rates could push thousands of recipients of first home buyers grants close to default.
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Insurance
Tax office has millions of unclaimed stimulus cash
Almost half a million Australians could have their $900 stimulus cheques waiting for them at the tax office. Figures released by the Australian Taxation Office have shown that more than 450,000 people still need to lodge last year's tax return to be eligible for a piece of the Rudd Government's $8 billion cash splash.
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Home Loans
Experts predict that the economy is responding to stimulus
Economists have said that business has responded to the federal government's economic fiscal stimulus package due to an unexpected jump in commercial lending commitments although a definite trend has not yet emerged.
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Home Loans
25% of mortgage holders suffer from stress
A new survey has found that more than 1.3 million households are suffering mortgage stress despite low interest rates.
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Insurance
The RD Guide To The 2009 Australian Federal Budget
Treasurer Wayne Swan is scheduled to deliver the 2009 Federal Budget tonight, Tuesday 12th May, at 7.30PM. This will be one of the most significant budgets in recent history.
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Financial Planning
Australia in recession mode
Mr. Rudd told an economic forum in Adelaide yesterday that due to the worst global economic recession in 75 years it is unavoidable that Australia would be dragged into recession.
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Financial Planning
No rate cut expected till May budget
The Rudd Governments' handout seems to have petered out, and the predictions for world growth are terrifying. Economists are predicting further rate cuts and increased Government spending may be required in the coming months to protect jobs, with the May budget expected to contain more fiscal stimulus.
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Financial Planning
Not all doom and gloom says treasurer
Acting Prime Minister Julia Gillard is urging employers to use wage restraint as the economy slows. While Treasurer Wayne Swan has stated that Australia will survive the world financial crisis and be more prosperous than before.
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Financial Planning
Kevin Rudd's bonus may be in jeopardy
The High Court has agreed to hear a challenge to the legality of the Federal Governments $900 bonus to 8.7 million taxpayers thereby putting it in jeopardy.
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Home Loans
Could the first home-owners grant lead to housing bubble?
Ralph Norris Commonwealth Bank's chief stated earlier this week that the Rudd Governments' first home-buyer grant could lead to a residential property bubble if it became a permanent fixture in the housing market.
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Home Loans
Reserve Bank undecided over interest rate decision
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) was indecisive whether to pause on interest rates in March and wanted to evaluate the effects of earlier cuts and the Federal Government's fiscal stimulus packages.
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Home Loans
First home buyers grant up for discussion
The end of June could see the last of the first home buyers grant, as the Government is not prepared to commit to an extension.
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Insurance
The RD Guide To The 2009 Australian Government Stimulus Package Handouts
By now, you've probably heard that the Australian government is introducing a stimulus package to try to buoy the Australian economy. One of the components of this package is a cash payment to Australian taxpayers. It's a nice wee bonus! But how do you get your entitlement?
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Financial Planning
Are we already in recession?
Is Australia already in recession? According to the experts there has to be two successive quarters of negative GDP growth and we have only had one so far. The economy went backwards in the December quarter, and that was before the real effects from the global meltdown had reached us.
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Financial Planning
Are we on the brink of recession?
After the economy shrank in the December quarter Australia could be on the brink of a recession for the first time in almost two decades. Australia was only spared a technical recession by the performance of the Agriculture sector.
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Home Loans
Economists tip rate cut today
As the effects of the global downturn threaten to hit our economy hard interest rates are tipped to fall to record lows today. Out of 16 economists surveyed thirteen expect the Reserve Bank to cut the official cash rate at the monthly board meeting today.
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Financial Planning
Government's stimulus package handout
As part of the Government's $42bn stimulus package the Australian Tax Office said that preparations are underway to make one-off payments to taxpayers from early April.
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Home Loans
RBA concurs Government stimulus way to go!
The Reserve Bank (RBA) has stated that they feel that the Federal Government's fiscal stimulus package and the large interest rate cuts will flow through to the economy, although it will take sometime for the full effect to be felt.
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Home Loans
Spending falls and savings rise
Australians have been scared into paying off their debts and ramping up their savings due to the sinking economy and fear of losing their jobs. Less than 5 per cent of mortgage borrowers have opted to reduce the repayments on their mortgages as figures from the big four banks have shown.
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Financial Planning
Money money money!
Australians have never had it this good, with the promise of more money heading their way in due course. The government is hoping that a lot of this money will be spent in stores and subdivisions preventing the country from a recession.
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Financial Planning
Spending spree to stop recession
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has tried to reassure all Australians that the Government is doing everything it possibly can to keep us out of a recession. Yesterday the Government unveiled a $42 billion stimulus package including $28.8 billion for our aging schools, housing energy efficiency, infrastructure and support for small businesses.
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Home Loans
Treasurer expects big rate cuts
While addressing a packed house of the hedge funds and bankers at the financial services program of the G'DAY USA, Treasurer Wayne Swan has indicated to US investors that further interest rate cuts are likely in Australia.
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Financial Planning
Average wealth of Australians decreased by $19,000
As the global financial crisis bites the wealth of every Australian man, woman and child has plummeted by a record 9 per cent or about $19,000. New figures released have shown that national wealth in property, shares and other assets fell to $4956 billion in the third quarter of last year from $5281 billion 12 months ago.
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Home Loans
Government urged to extend first-home buyers grant
The first home buyers grant has lifted the purchase of new homes by 10 per cent in its first month causing pressure on Kevin Rudd to extend the first-home buyers grant beyond June 30.
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Financial Planning
Tax cuts could be brought forward
The Rudd Government is considering bringing promised tax cuts forward to counter the worsening global economy. The Australian has reported that treasurer Wayne Swan said that the Government was determined to do all it could to strengthen the economy in the face of the international crisis.