Economist
Oliver’s insights – The Australian home price downturn deepened in August, with more to go
3 September
Key points The slump in national average home prices continued in August with prices down 0.9% according to Cotality, their fifth monthly fall. The fall in July was revised down to -1.2%. Further falls are likely as we continue to expect another...[Read More]
Compound interest and returns are an investor’s best friend
27 August
If there is “one thing” investors should know about investing, it’s the power of compound interest or returns. In the ever-rising obsession with short-term developments impacting investment markets around the economy, interest rates, profits,...[Read More]
Oliver’s Insights – Compound interest and returns are an investor’s best friend
21 August
Key pointsCompound interest is an investor’s best friend but can be a borrower’s worst nightmare.The higher the return, the earlier and bigger the investment contribution and the longer the period the more it works.To make the most of it, ensure...[Read More]
Oliver’s insights – Why investors need to treat forecasts with caution
20 August
Key points The increasing noise around investing – associated with a messier economic and geopolitical backdrop along with an explosion in information flow and the rise of social media – is arguably accentuating a desire for investment...[Read More]
Oliver’s Insights – The RBA cuts for the third time – expect a further gradual easing to 2.85%
14 August
Key pointsThe RBA cut its cash rate by 0.25% taking it to 3.6%. This is the third rate cut in this easing cycle.The RBA sees inflation running around target but has revised its growth forecasts down again. Its forecasts assume that the cash rate...[Read More]
Oliver’s insights – Another hawkish RBA hold at 4.35% – expect one more hike later this year
13 August
Key points The RBA left the cash rate on hold at 4.35% for the second meeting in a row. Some softer than expected readings for underlying inflation, jobs and home prices allowed it to remain in wait and see mode as it “assesses” the impact of...[Read More]
Oliver’s Insights – Poor Australian productivity – why all the fuss? And what to do about it?
31 July
Key pointsThe last decade has seen productivity stagnate in Australia. This has curtailed growth in living standards and real wages.Policies to boost productivity include: deregulation; more housing supply; a cap on public spending; and tax...[Read More]
Oliver’s Insights – Seven key charts on the state of the Australian property market
24 July
Key pointsThe Australian housing market remains far more complicated than many portray it to be.The Australian housing is cycle is turning up again; falling interest rates are the key driver; along with a chronic undersupply of homes of...[Read More]
Oliver’s insights – The economics of happiness – why it’s been falling & what to do about it?
30 July
Key points Despite rising GDP per person, measures of happiness have been flat to falling in western countries including Australia. Key drivers are likely to be rising expectations, the rise of social media and falling housing affordability. It...[Read More]
Oliver’s insights – Nine key charts for investors to keep an eye on amidst oil and AI worries
23 July
Key points: The first half of this year saw good share market returns despite the oil supply shock on the back of the US/Iran War. We remain upbeat on a 12-month view but see a high risk of another correction in the short term. Nine key charts...[Read More]
Oliver’s insights – Why have Australian living standards “fallen” and how do we fix it?
16 July
Key points Falling real wages and a surge in tax and interest payments over the last five years have led to a slump in Australians’ living standards. But a broader driver of the malaise in living standards has been a slump in productivity...[Read More]
Oliver’s insights – 2025-26 saw lots of noise but strong returns (again) – can it continue?
9 July
Key points While we saw a long list of worries over the last year, 2025-26 saw another financial year of strong returns. Risks around Iran and oil, various other geopolitical issues, sticky inflation and possible further rate hikes and AI related...[Read More]
Oliver’s insights – Was life really better in the good old days?
9 July
Key points Angst about economic conditions has been running high in recent times. This is evident in chronically low consumer confidence readings and a downtrend in measures of happiness. It’s also arguably evident in the rise of populist...[Read More]
Oliver’s insights – Teflon share markets – 5 reasons they’re so resilient despite lots of worries
25 June
Key points Despite lots of threats over the last 18 months share markets have proved to be remarkably resilient. This likely reflects a combination of: President Trump’s desire for shares to rise; economic activity data right here right now has...[Read More]
Oliver’s insights – The RBA undertakes a hawkish pause – we continue to expect a further rise in rates
18 June
Key points After three consecutive rate hikes the RBA left rates on hold at 4.35% at its June meeting. However, the RBA retained a tightening bias noting that inflation Is “still too high” and is likely to remain so for some time and that it...[Read More]