读新闻学英语了解财经时事

MICHELLE07

学习帖。财经时事本就需要持续更新了解，顺便学英文、增加聊天题材。主要借鉴ABC News(有录音有字幕)，可惜目前技术上不允许共享到英语版。每一节有粗略的学习词汇中文注释和个人总结出来的中文注解的中心思想。
http://www.abc.net.au/news/#tab=audio
其它来源：
http://www.smh.com.au/money

                           ENGLISH FINANCE/BUSINESS NEWS
7楼      27-09-2013  日本车厂固定汽车零配件价格成本催涨了澳洲汽车
10楼     04-10-2013  美国财政部警告高额外债可能触发金融危机
22楼     10-10-2013  婴儿潮退休拉低失业率
24楼     18-10-2013  RBA表示无力阻止澳元的上升
25楼     23-10-2013  9月CPI超预期增长但趋势良好
26楼     30-10-2013  低利率大幅促进新房销量，消协调查Coles,WoolWorths
27楼     05-11-2013  利率不变澳股收盘走高
28楼     13-11-2013  关于中共18届3中全会讨论的改革问题
29楼     22-11-2013 澳联储长官宣布干预货币市场后澳币下跌
30楼     27-11-2013 海外投资客将首次置业者挤出市场


Red Tape 繁文缛节

7楼
conspire（名词conspiracy） 密谋
tipped off  警告
allegations 指控
collusion 勾结，串通
cartel behaviour 同业联盟行为（有垄断意味）
prosecution 控告，检举

10楼
deadlock(僵局)  impasse(僵局,和deadlock类似) stalemate(也是僵局) standoff（僵局）
catastrophic(灾难性的)
Brinkmanship(边缘政策)
eye-glazingly(令人目光呆滞) beige(米色) tome(巨著)
dire(可怕的)
unprecedented(空前的）
bemused(困惑的)
fallout(附带后果)
cling to(坚持)
jitters(振动)
complacency(自满)
have ripple(使泛起涟漪)effects
dent(削弱)
     
22楼
demographer(人口统计学家)
imminent(即将发生的)
tad(少量)
relentless(残酷的)
strip out(剥离)
propping up（支持，有利于）

24楼
averted（避免）
standoff（僵局）SEE ABOVE
greenback（美钞）SEE 10#
dodged a bullet（躲过了子弹）
impinge（冲击）
spectre（凶兆）
contemplate（盘算，深思熟虑）
rampant （猖獗的）
rule out（排除在外）
hinge（依....为转折点）

25楼
odds(可能性/逆境)
subdued(被抑制的)
on the cards(有可能)
contained(牵制)
hindrance (障碍)

26楼
boasted 自夸
volatile不稳定的
revival(复兴)
unconscionable昧着良心的,不合理的
viability 生存能力
escalating 逐步升级

27楼
fetch 拿去,请来,用于表现外币兑换相当于的意思

28楼
the third plenum of the Eighteen Party Congress 十八界三中全会
falls short of 低于, 不满足
communiqué公报
square with 与…相符
skewed不对称的, 斜的
upbeat 积极乐观的
scramble争夺，抢夺
apparatus器械, 机构
laud 称赞，赞美
vex使烦恼, 长期争论
espionage 间谍活动

29楼
out of the question 不可能的
buoy振奋
sentiment情绪
spruiki 当众滔滔不绝地讲话

30楼
snap up 争购

ubuntuhk

搬小板凳~~

MICHELLE07

  财经新闻摘选索引           

01-10-2013      RBA keeps rates on hold at 2.5pc
                         纽国房贷限令今起实施 四大行利润将受重创
                         官利或于2014年回升 穆迪：澳房贷拖欠率看涨
                         保险费涨幅远超通胀 医院险年费增逾百元
                         美国政府面临停摆 澳元汇价回落

03-10-2013    西澳房产租售价格均开始下跌
                         澳洲制造业开始改善 两年多来首扩张
                         RBA已结束减息

04-10-2013    3年内与华签署自贸协定 联盟党拟放软身段
                         美国政府持续关门致澳元下滑

05-10-2013   奥巴马摆明底线：不能容忍美国沦为赖债国
                        基金保险涨价多达5成 养老储蓄最多缩水10万
                        澳洲未来4年平均经济增长率预计仅为2.5%

08-10-2013   13#---------澳洲退休制度全球第三佳

09-10-2013    国际货币基金组织预测2014失业率将继续攀升

14-10-2013     中国出口数据及美国政治僵局致澳元回落
                         澳反对党称澳中达致自贸协议面临关卡

29-10-2013   储行：澳币将大幅贬值 房价上涨尚不足忧

30-10-2013 房产投资者挤爆市场 三季度租金回报率大跌

07-11-2013 澳洲贸易赤字连降2月 明年料出现顺差

13-11-2013   外国基金警惕澳房市泡沫 「怕经济一跌就崩」

个人解读(为理解将来趋势信息备查用)

03-10-13 制造业改善的新闻：
目前有清晰的迹象表明，澳币贬值、官利降低以及联邦大选清晰的结果都提振了企业的信心。
9月份扩张速度最快的是食品、饮料与烟草等子部门。与此同时，金属制品与机器及设备等部门持续急剧衰退。
03-10-13 RBA停止减息的新闻：
一楼提供的相关新闻里帖跟帖中有不少数据和历史新闻(其实也是最仅一两个月)，见3、22、32、35楼。谢谢x24

04-10-13 美国经济对澳元汇率的影响：
个人感觉基本是反向影响，当然可能比较轻微，也要看长短期。

05-10-13 美国陷入僵局，澳洲持续低迷：
各种警告、预测，看过就好。。。
                                    
14-10-13
这几天关于雪梨和猫本房市热门的新闻挺多的，清盘率很高，具体新闻不贴了。
还有关于澳人均财富排名很强的新闻，不是第一次听说了，听过算数，反正咱们也是拖后腿的

主要还是贴些关于政策走向和专家对形势评估的新闻吧
不太明白澳元那点微弱的走低怎么受中国出口走弱和美国僵局的影响了？澳元长期将贬值.....

07-11-13
澳洲贸易赤字连降2月 明年料出现顺差, 澳元不是预期要贬值吗？这如何贬下去？政府有政治手段没有？出口要增强了。。。

MICHELLE07

请问熊猫阿三，你现在还在听ABC news吗？是精听还是泛听？觉得学习效果如何？

请问周星星，新闻和百科的转帖都来自哪里？除了留园，哪里有最全面的新闻时事报道？
我知道你们转的已经很全了，我也会挑一些财经类的细读。

但考虑到民主社会的媒体是带“偏见”的（看为哪个党说话），我希望能接触到更多的信息渠道。

谢谢！

熊猫阿三

格菲 发表于 29-9-2013 10:31

                               
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请问熊猫阿三 你现在还在听ABC news吗？是精听还是泛听？觉得学习效果如何？

请问周星星 新闻和百 ...

我现在就是每天iphone的podcast下载，路上泛听下。效果嘛.... 我已经能听懂大部分了，所以不知道效果是什么。

周星星1832

熊猫阿三 发表于 29-9-2013 17:13

                               
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我现在就是每天iphone的podcast下载，路上泛听下。效果嘛.... 我已经能听懂大部分了，所以不知道效果是 ...

新闻
就news.com.au
中文的google 澳洲新闻
下班我都看mx

MICHELLE07

中心思想
9家日本汽车零件厂密谋固定买向世界最大车厂的30种以上的产品的价格。

澳官方机构正在调查此事最消费者的影响，消协已对两家日企采取指控措施。

美国律师协会公布说9家日本零件厂已承认固定价格行为并接受巨额惩罚。

澳汽车协会期望消协强硬处罚该类非法垄断行为，并呼吁车厂配合提供相关信息。


影响听力理解的词：
conspired （名词conspiracy） 密谋
tipped off  警告
allegations 指控
ball bearings 汽车配件，滚球轴承
collusion 勾结，串通
cartel behaviour 同业联盟行为（有垄断意味）
attorney 律师
prosecution 控告，检举

澳大利亚消协会:日本车厂固定配件价格催涨了澳洲汽车成本 27-Sep-2013
ACCC: Price fixing by Japanese car-parts manufacturers push up the cost of Australian cars

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013- ... e-car-parts/4986126

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission says price-fixing activities by Japanese auto parts makers have pushed up the cost of cars in Australia. The comments come after the U-S Justice department announced that nine Japanese car parts firms conspired to fix the prices of more than 30 products sold to many of the world's largest car makers. Australian authorities are now investigating to what extent consumers here have been affected by the conspiracy.

MANDIE SAMI: US officials say more than 25 million cars purchased by American consumers have been affected by the illegal conduct.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission was involved in the investigation. The ACCC chairman Rod Sims says it's possible that Australian car manufacturers have also been affected by the conspiracy.
ROD SIMS: We're very keen to make sure that evidence is not destroyed, that people aren't tipped off at the wrong time, so it really involves both co-ordination of investigations and exchange of information which was very helpful on all sides.

MANDIE SAMI: Mr Sims says the ACCC has taken action against two Japanese parts makers and other companies are under investigation.

ROD SIMS: We instituted proceedings late last year against Yazaki essentially for, we were alleging price-fixing - I mean this is still before the court so I've got to be careful. These are allegations we're making against Yazaki in terms of price-fixing so for wire harnesses, for Toyota cars.

We also instituted proceedings this year for a number of Japanese companies in relation to ball bearings , where again it involves price-fixing behaviour for ball bearings, and we have a couple more investigations underway.

MANDIE SAMI: The Federation of Automotive Products Manufacturers is the peak body representing the interests of the Australian car component sector.

Its chief executive, Richard Reilly, says he doesn't think Australian companies are involved in price-fixing.

RICHARD REILLY: I'd be very surprised or enormously surprised if there was any sort of widespread collusion going on within the Australian sector. I don't know who the ACCC is investigating, I've got no transparency on that and we'll just have to wait and see what their investigations come up with in due course when they're made public.

MANDIE SAMI: The executive director of the Australian Automobile Association, Andrew McKellar, says he expects the ACCC to impose strong penalties on those found to be acting illegally.

ANDREW MCKELLAR: These are very shady dealings and I think the great concern is that whenever there is this sort of cartel behaviour by big businesses, it's the consumer who loses out, so what we are looking for is certainly tough action by the ACCC, we're pleased that they're part of a global investigation and that that investigation is now delivering results and we do want to see action taken against those companies where there's any evidence that Australian consumers have been expected to pay more for cars than they otherwise should have done.

MANDIE SAMI: The US attorney-general Eric Holder says nine companies based in Japan have already admitted to price-fixing and agreed to pay huge fines.

ERIC HOLDER: As a result of these conspiracies, Americans paid more for their cars. And American companies such as Chrysler, Ford and General Motors, as well as US subsidiaries of Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru and Toyota, were victims of these illegal cartels.

MANDIE SAMI: Mr Holder says this is part of a larger investigation by the Department of Justice into the car industry.

ERIC HOLDER: Our work is not yet done. We will continue to check under every hood and kick every tyre to make sure that we put an end to this illegal and destructive conduct.

MANDIE SAMI: The US deputy assistant attorney-general, Scott Hammond, has revealed which companies have been charged.

SCOTT HAMMOND: They are Hitachi Automotive Systems, Mitsubishi Electric and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Mitsuba, Jtekt, NSK, T.RAD, Valeo Japan and Yamashita Rubber.

MANDIE SAMI: Prices have been fixed for parts that include seat belts, radiators, windshield wipers, air-conditioning systems, and power steering components.

The Australian Automobile Association's Andrew McKellar is urging officials from Australian car companies to come forward if they think they've been affected.

ANDREW MCKELLAR: They do have an obligation to provide that information. At the end of the day people have brought vehicles from these companies in good faith, if they've been disadvantaged as a result of this sort of criminal behaviour, then I expect that they should level with their customers and if there's evidence that warrants prosecution or penalties in Australia, then I would expect that that should occur.

PETER LLOYD: That's the Australian Automobile Association's Andrew McKellar ending that report from Mandie Sami.

熊猫阿三

我是不是要重新开始学习英语了！

MICHELLE07

熊猫阿三 发表于 30-9-2013 10:54

                               
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我是不是要重新开始学习英语了！

我刚开了个头，7楼的东西还没开始处理呢，欢迎熊猫光临指教。

我用红色标出的是我听的时候影响我理解的词。还有一些值得学习的词组也标出来了。

另外这篇新闻的财经信息会简单总结一下。
希望以后可以做到听过一遍就能说出中文的中心思想，就是我这个帖长期学习的本意。

MICHELLE07

中心思想:
美国如果不提高债务上限17000亿，可能会历史性地＂赖债＂。和政府开支案一样，是否提高债务上限是另一僵局。
政府的关闭和＂赖债＂的风险负面影响到金融市场，财政部警告说可能会把美国经济带入萧条，进而影响全球。
外债僵局也将影响美元和美国债券的可信度，安全度。
澳元略有回升（0.942）。

US Treasury warns debt stoush (斗争)could spark(触发) financial crisis 04-10-2013
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013- ... could-spark/4999350
The US Treasury is warning a deadlock(僵局) over America's $17 trillion debt ceiling could have catastrophic(灾难性的) consequences. Treasury says a failure to raise the debt ceiling could see America default on its debts for the first time ever. It also warns a default(违约,不是默认的意思) will not only hurt America's economic recovery, but also put the country back into a deep recession.

PETER LLOYD: But first, with the budget impasse(僵局,和deadlock类似) in Washington at a stalemate(也是僵局), the powerful US Treasury department is warning that another deadlock could have "catastrophic consequences" for the world.

Treasury says a failure to raise America's $17 trillion debt ceiling could see the US default on its debt for the first time ever.

The prospect(前景) of a US default, in addition to the partial government shutdown, is unsettling financial markets after Treasury warned it would put America back into a deep recession.

Here's our business editor Peter Ryan.

PETER RYAN: It's a six page document titled "The Potential Macroeconomic Effect of Debt Ceiling Brinkmanship(边缘政策)", but it's not the typical eye-glazingly(令人目光呆滞) beige(米色) tome(巨著) you'd expect from the US Treasury.

The tone is dire(可怕的) right from the opening paragraph, when Treasury warns a US default would be unprecedented(空前的）and potentially "catastrophic".

EXTRACT FROM US TREASURY DOCUMENT: Not only might the economic consequences of default be profound, those consequences - including high interest rates, reduced investment, higher debt payments, and slow economic growth - could last for more than a generation.

Many private-sector analysts believe that would lead to events of the magnitude(重大) of late 2008 or worse, and the result then was a recession more severe than any seen since the Great Depression.

PETER RYAN: The warning was enough for the managing director of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, to also predict catastrophic consequences - and she's urging the US Congress to come to its senses.

CHRISTINE LAGARDE: The government shutdown is bad enough, but failure to raise the debt ceiling would be far worse and could very seriously damage not only the US economy but also the entire global economy.

You know, people around the world are confused; they're bemused(困惑的), but they're certainly not amused by what is happening in this country because it will affect the global economy if it were to materialise.

PETER RYAN: The US Treasury delivered a similar though less dramatic warning two years ago when the debt ceiling was last in the balance.

Although a deal was struck a minute before midnight, the stoush and reputational damage was enough for the ratings agency Standard & Poor's to remove America's AAA credit rating.

Professor Jeffrey Frankel of Harvard University and a former advisor to president Bill Clinton says the threat of catastrophic global fallout(附带后果) is real.

JEFFREY FRANKEL: It would mean that the US would default on obligations, and there are some who cling to(坚持) the idea well, maybe we'd have enough tax revenue still coming in that we could service the Treasury debt, but it would still mean defaulting on other obligations. It would be a very rude shock.

PETER RYAN: Professor Frankel says an even greater threat is the potential damage a debt deadlock could do to the perceived credibility and safety of the US currency and US Treasury bonds which are regarded as rolled gold.

JEFFREY FRANKEL: You know we're not just any country. The US Treasury bill market is still the kind of foundation of the world economy. The dollar for better or worse is still the preferred international currency and the US Treasury bill market is still thought to be the most liquid and trustworthy.

And when there is a sign of uncertainty in the world, the safe haven is US Treasury bills. But if that safe haven no longer exists, that could cause a financial crisis worse than we saw five years ago.

PETER RYAN: Wall Street ended 0.9 of 1 percent weaker on jitters(振动)caused by the Treasury warning, and the uncertainty also saw Europe also close in the red.

And there are two signals that investors are bracing for bad news. The cost of insuring debt on 10 year Treasury bonds has risen to an eight month high. And the Volatility Index in Chicago is moving higher - though nowhere near the surge seen in late 2011 when the debt ceiling impasse was last on the radar.

Brenda Kelly of IG Markets says financial markets are edgy, but she also believes they're not worried enough.

BRENDA KELLY: I think there is a certain amount of complacency(自满) in the market that is probably a little bit misplaced. Clearly the US is such a powerhouse of the world economy, and any sort of pull-back in that will have ripple(使泛起涟漪)effects throughout the world.

What we have been noting today though is the fact that the UK markets did do reasonably well - mainly owing to better than expected data from China.

Nevertheless, as soon as the US opened it did take a little bit of a turn to the worst and as this government shutdown continues, we can expect to see a certain amount of uncertainty, and that will more than likely dent(削弱) investor sentiment(情绪) further.

PETER RYAN: Australian investors are also moving to the sidelines and the All Ordinaries Index was 0.4 of 1 per cent weaker in late morning trade. The Australian dollar is back up to 94.2 US cents after the greenback(美钞) fell to an eight month low.

Given the potentially toxic(有毒的) combination of the US government shutdown and warnings that an unprecedented debt default presents a real and present danger - not just to the United States, but to the world.

MICHELLE07

我发现财经新闻不多，国际方面的尤其少。新闻读起来真是费劲。。。有陪读就好了.....


如果不出意外的话，这个帖和那个税务学习帖类似，预计完工日期年底。

自家领导最近开始和我分享时事见闻和他的观点，从精神上支持我读新闻，他说时事新闻是风向标。

指纹

下了班我就看不进去英文了，看见英语帖就想跳过

孤独马夫

有个问题，我想请教楼主，在这个帖子中，我们应该讨论英文呢，还是应该讨论财经？

MICHELLE07

调查：澳洲退休制度全球第三佳
2013-10-07　来源: 澳洲日报  
根据一份报告，澳洲老年金制度在全球排名第三佳，澳洲的退休者们可谓非常幸运。
强制养老金缴纳规定和慷慨的老年金福利帮助澳洲守住了今年在墨尔本揭晓的“美世全球养老金指数（Mercer Global Pension Index）”排行榜的第三名。

丹麦位列榜首，荷兰屈居第二。英国排名第九，美国排第11名，巴西和墨西哥分别位列第14和第15名。

　　调查人员兼美世资深合伙人诺克斯（David Knox）指出，养老金改革使得澳洲今年的整体得分有所提高，但澳洲仍有进步的空间。诺克斯博士暗示，为了改善该系统，澳洲应该提高领取老年金的年龄，因为澳洲的平均寿命已延长了。此外，澳洲政府还应该鼓励老年人重返职场。

　　诺克斯还认为，澳洲政府应该对人们使用养老金的方式进行管制，应该要求澳人把部分养老金资金作为收入来源，而非当作一次性付款。

　　“澳洲的退休制度排到第三名是因为强制系统意味着几乎每个职员都被涵盖在内且拥有养老金，也就是说我们每个人都在为自己储存养老金，”诺克斯博士说道。“但是，澳人如何使用这笔资金却没有附带任何要求，我们认为这是澳洲退休系统中的一个缺点。”

　　他还指出，澳洲人口老龄化意味着澳人必须改变对退休的态度，企业也应该提供更灵活的工作岗位，充分利用老年职员的丰富技能。

　　“我们不是要求你们工作到闭眼的那天，你们应该意识到，蓝领工人可能早就累垮了。但是大家应该知道，在如何让人们退休这方面，我们需要采取更灵活的做法。”“在未来10年，将有大批澳人退休，而经济估计将无法承受劳动力锐减带来的冲击，所以我们必须找到办法，确保澳人逐渐退休。”

　　“这主要在于人们是否意识到人口老龄化的问题，重点是我们都必须采取行动来解决，并运用富有创造力的思维。老人们做兼职工作总是可以的吧。”

　　美世全球养老金指数共对全球20个国家进行评估，覆盖了全球55%的人口。

孤独马夫

现在几乎所有的养老体系都将被极度的通货膨胀所破坏。

孤独马夫

或者说一切养老准备在政府依靠通货膨胀作为解决国家经济问题的手段面前显得苍白无力。

孤独马夫

所有的养老体系设计都有一个默认前提条件，就是币值稳定。

MICHELLE07

孤独马夫 发表于 8-10-2013 13:16

                               
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所有的养老体系设计都有一个默认前提条件，就是币值稳定。

记得你在另一个帖里说到在等待的6年中已经准备了退休养老的钱，先恭喜一下。

你楼上说的通货膨胀、币值不稳定的风险，就澳洲来说，以后养老都不再统筹的话，对SUPER的吞噬比什么人口老龄化等问题严峻多了（我个人的理解）。

也许可以做点对冲的保值措施，我个人觉得比较可行的还是买投资房，可惜目前自身没有实力，也不是入市时机。

MICHELLE07

说到入市时机，宏观经济不懂，也没有投资天分。既然形势看起来墨尔本、悉尼的房价总体要上涨，甚至可能长期疯狂地持续到2046年，然而，在良锈不齐的市场里谁能保证自己不买到＂坑子＂房呢？在历史的河流中，长期发展的过程中总是有多次局部短期起伏＂微调＂，谁能保证自己不被＂调＂进去，作为无数蝼蚁中的一名，成为经济发展的陪葬品？就算是专业行家，也是有输有赢，但实力不一样，人家讲的是广泛散网把鸡蛋放在不同的篮子里长期拥有鸡生蛋蛋孵鸡.....
但说白了，已经有了一桶金又有高税率收入的同学，还是可以以观望姿态，行淘宝之乐趣，见机下手。
咱们就只能寄情山水、隐匿田园、纸上谈不来兵。。。。

孤独马夫

格菲 发表于 9-10-2013 09:19

                               
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记得你在另一个帖里说到在等待的6年中已经准备了退休养老的钱，先恭喜一下。

你楼上说的通货膨胀、币值 ...

难道我又表达错误了？我意思，六年的等待让我有了更多的积蓄。养老的资本，我还不知道应该是多少，如今无法预料政府究竟有多大的通货膨胀的欲望。

chubbycat

MICHELLE07

10-10-2013 Baby boomer retirement helps keep unemployment down
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013- ... oyment-down/5015068
Australia's unemployment rate has fallen for the first time this year, easing from 5.8 to 5.6 per cent in September. The decline was mainly driven by a slide in workforce participation, which many analysts see as a sign that discouraged jobseekers have given up. However, some economists and a leading demographer(人口统计学家) says falling participation has more to do with the baby boomer retirement wave than the discouraged jobseeker.
相比人们退出找工市场，婴儿潮退休是失业率下降的主要原因.

9月失业率略为下降似乎是为了应证新政府的蜜月期之说。但经济学家指出好的表面数据掩盖了薄弱的事实。即将退休的婴儿潮将在未来十年有助于失业率的控制。失业率从去年8月的5.1％上升到了今年8月的5.8％，虽然9月降至5.6％，失业依然是个大问题，数据表明有些人放弃了继续找工作。9月的工作市场参与率64.9％是７年来最低，主要是因人口老龄化，如果剔除退休的因素，实际还是略有增长的。现在老人推迟了退休时间，尤其是老龄女性，工作参与率比过去十年翻倍。即使这样，仍不足以抵消退休数目。引进新移民有利于相当程度地改善了就业率，过去5年里新移民的参与率增长显著。碳税、矿业税的取消和建筑委员会的成立有改善工作场所关系提供了灵活性，希望能通过应用这些提供就业率，但结果如何还有待观察，新政策采取措施增加就业机会尚需一段时间。

DAVID MARK: It's said new governments get a political honeymoon period. The Coalition seems to be getting an economic honeymoon to match.

The unemployment rate has been slowly but steadily rising since late last year, but the latest Bureau of Statistics figures show a surprise drop in joblessness last month.

The Government isn't claiming any credit for the fall and has instead joined many economists who warn that the good headline figure masks weaker details.

But some analysts say the imminent(即将发生的) retirement of the baby boomers is likely to help put a lid on the unemployment rate for at least the next decade.

Business reporter Michael Janda has more.

MICHAEL JANDA: The unemployment rate's been on a relentless(残酷的) march higher over the past year, rising from a low of 5.1 per cent last August to a high of 5.8 per cent in August this year.

But the Bureau of Statistics' official estimates for September have halted(停止) that trend, with unemployment falling to 5.6 per cent.

The more stable and statistically reliable trend figure remained stuck at 5.7 per cent, but ANZ's head of Australian economics, Justin Fabo, says it's a still a positive result.

JUSTIN FABO: We've seen job ads and a couple of other measures, actually, just improve a tad(少量) in the last couple of months. And normally that would be consistent with, at least, a stabilisation in the unemployment rate. And I guess that's what we've actually seen in today's numbers.

MICHAEL JANDA: The new Minister for Employment, Eric Abetz, also welcomes the latest jobs number but sounded a note of caution about the figures.

ERIC ABETZ: Clearly underemployment is still a major problem. And there is also some discouragement amongst job seekers, and it appears that some people have decided to no longer look for work.

MICHAEL JANDA: Senator Abetz is referring to a fall in the participation rate: that's the proportion of people aged over 15 in work or looking for it.

The participation rate for September came in at 64.9 per cent, the lowest in almost seven years.

Many economists view it as a sign that jobseekers have given up. But ANZ's Justin Fabo says his research suggests the falling participation rate has more to do with baby boomers beginning to retire.

JUSTIN FABO: The participation rate rose very sharply in Australia up to the Global Financial Crisis. Since then it's fallen. But a large part of the reason for why it's fallen is the aging of the population.

So when you strip out(剥离) those people who are aged over 65 - and not many of work - when you strip them out, the participation rate's actually increased a little bit over the past year.

MICHAEL JANDA: Demographer Peter McDonald from the Australian National University says that trend is only going to strengthen.

PETER MCDONALD: It's inevitable over the next decade that the participation rate in Australia will fall because the baby boomers are such a large cohort(部队）compared to those before them and they will be retiring over the next decade and we are seeing that effect now.

MICHAEL JANDA: Professor McDonald says boomers are pulling the participation rate down, even though more of them are working for longer than older workers used to.

PETER MCDONALD: Older people are staying in the labour force longer. Quite substantial increases in the age-specific participation rate at older ages, but not enough to offset the numbers retiring.

MICHAEL JANDA: He says women in particular are staying in the workforce much longer than they used to.

PETER MCDONALD: For women aged 60 to 64, the participation rate has doubled in just a decade from about 25 per cent to about 50 per cent. So it's a very substantial increase.

MICHAEL JANDA: But the dramatic gains in overall female workforce participation made in the 1980s slowed down dramatically in the 90s and 2000s. And more young people are also delaying their entry into full-time work by studying.

Professor McDonald says that leaves migrants propping up（支持，有利于） the participation rate.

PETER MCDONALD: Migrants are more and more likely to be employed quickly. Mainly because they're people who've come into Australia on a temporary basis, have got a job in Australia, and then, of course, when they get their permanent residence they're already working. So participation rates for migrants have risen quite a bit, probably over the last five years.

MICHAEL JANDA: Senator Abetz says government incentives to employ older workers and a suite of other measures should boost employment growth.

ERIC ABETZ: We want to get rid of the carbon tax, the mining tax, reintroduce the Australian Building and Construction Commission, provide a bit more flexibility in workplace relations. So we do have a suite of policies that we announced, that the Australian people embraced, and we look forward to being able to implement them to allow there to be employment growth in our country.

MICHAEL JANDA: But he isn't promising instant results.

ERIC ABETZ: It will take some time before the measures we as a new Government seek to introduce wash through the economy and then into new job opportunities.


DAVID MARK: That's the Employment Minister, Eric Abetz, ending that story by Michael Janda.

孤独马夫

格菲 发表于 10-10-2013 23:42

                               
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信息处理中............10-10-2013 Baby boomer retirement helps keep unemployment down
http://www.abc ...

晕啊，直接回复了。

MICHELLE07

18-10-2013   RBA says it may be powerless to stop Aussie dollar's rise
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013- ... stop-aussie/5032604
美国违债的危机总算勉强过去。虽然政策制订者考虑过或有方案但真正的后果谁也不知道。僵局打破的结果使美元跌落，澳元相应回升。澳元普遍被认为是高估了。储行官员没有透露如果澳元持续上升银行能有什么措施，但认为更低的汇率有利于带动能源经济。
虽然澳元走强给澳洲经济带来压力，就全世界来说是躲过了美国违债一劫。不排除低利率会引起将来的高通胀，目前看起来还好，从长期来说，取决于央行如何应对。

The Reserve Bank Governor, Glenn Stevens, says the Australian dollar is overvalued. He'd like it to fall but there may be nothing he can to do make it happen. Mr Stevens says the world also narrowly escaped a US debt ceiling disaster, and he hopes lawmakers there do not dice骰子 with deadlines again.

PETER LLOYD: The Reserve Bank Governor Glenn Stevens has spoken about the debt ceiling crisis just averted（避免） in the United States.

Mr Stevens revealed that policymakers here had made contingency plans in case of a US default. But it was a hedging moment, as they really had no idea how bad the fallout（附带后果） could be.

One negative outcome of the US political standoff（僵局）for Australia has been a fall in the greenback（美钞） and consequent rise in the Australian dollar.

But Mr Stevens says he's not sure the RBA can do much more to lower the dollar from its lofty高耸的 levels.

Business reporter Michael Janda was at the speech and has this report.

MICHAEL JANDA: Every time the Reserve Bank Governor makes a public appearance, bankers, borrowers and the media try and understand the world according to Glenn.

Generally it's like trying to divine（探测） water（试水）, and it looked like it was going to be the same today at a British Chamber of Commerce lunch in Sydney, when Glenn Stevens was asked whether the bank might take action if the Australian dollar kept rising.

GLENN STEVENS: Tempted to say if it warrants a response we'll do it and then tell you why but, try to be more constructive.

MICHAEL JANDA: He kept his word about offering useful guidance.

GLENN STEVENS: I personally would continue to think that a lower currency than this would be helpful in rebalancing the growth sources of the economy. I'd prefer it to be lower than this rather than higher. Whether it's in my gift to make that happen is a separate question.

MICHAEL JANDA: It seems Mr Stevens' best hope is to convince currency traders to realise that the Australian dollar is overvalued compared with the weak conditions in the local economy at the moment, and the record low official interest rates.

GLENN STEVENS: I don't think you could really credibly say that the level of costs and productivity in Australia just on that metric and that's not the only metric, but on that metric, I don't think that those things would point you to present or high levels being really sustainable.

MICHAEL JANDA: But while Aussie businesses may be feeling the pressure from a rising dollar, Mr Stevens says the whole world has dodged a bullet（躲过了子弹）, with US politicians averting or at least delaying a debt ceiling disaster.

GLENN STEVENS: I think had the debt ceiling started to impinge（冲击） in reality, we would have seen a very big fiscal contraction in the United States because 4 or 5 per cent of GDP budget deficit would have to have closed straight away. That would be quite a contractionary impact were that to have occurred. It hasn't occurred and at least for some months now we don't face that particular spectre（凶兆）.

MICHAEL JANDA: But he also says nobody knows just how catastrophic the result of a US default would be.

GLENN STEVENS: The truth is most of us will have worked out a few contingencies, but the truth is we really don't have much idea how that would have gone, it isn't difficult to contemplate（盘算，深思熟虑）why isn't it, could have gone very, very badly, but we really shouldn't be in a position of ever finding out.

MICHAEL JANDA: While most of the questions focused on the here and now, former RBA board member Jillian Broadbent asked about whether low interest rates now mean central banks might confront rampant （猖獗的）inflation later.

It's a long-term threat that Glenn Stevens didn't rule out（排除在外）.

GLEN STEVENS: In the near term, inflation is likely to remain low. Whether it remains low on a 10 to 20 year horizon, I think a lot of that really is going to hinge（依为转折点）on character, the determination and the independence of the central banks.

At least on paper that looks fine but I think there will be tests that come the way of central banks at some point on the inflation side, not in the very near term but sooner or later that will occur and really whether the world returns to high inflation or not ultimately is going to hinge very much on how they respond.

MICHAEL JANDA: But on that timeframe, it won't be Glenn Stevens' problem.

PETER LLOYD: That's our Business reporter Michael Janda.

MICHELLE07

23/10/2013 澳洲9月CPI超预期增长但趋势良好

中心思想：9月季度的CPI指数强势增长是由汽油价格（涨7.6％）、国际旅游（6.1％）、房产（7.9％）和能源价格（4.4％）的显著上升促使而成，这减低了11月降息的可能。1.2％的CPI增长比预期高0.8个百分点，造成了澳元对美元4个半月来的新高：0.9745。尽管如此，年通胀率降至2.2％。经济学家表示内需很弱，预期的失业率增长和被抑制的工资增长将使通胀保持在低水平，11月降息的可能性为6％。低汇率增加了进口通胀，封顶了降息空间，但价格的温和增长使得降息依然可能发生。和汽油国际旅游房产能源形成对比，蔬菜价格下降了4.5％。除Hobart, Darwin and Canberra外（低于1％）各州府CPI指数增长接近，可贸易商品的价格增长（1.2％）略高于不可贸易商品（1.1％，比如水电排污等）。

http://www.smh.com.au/business/t ... 20131023-2w01m.html

Inflation has risen strongly in the September quarter, boosted by petrol prices, international travel and property and utility rates, further reducing the odds(可能性/逆境,在这里是前者) of a Melbourne Cup day interest rate cut, analysts say.

The headline rate lifted by 1.2 per cent in the third quarter, higher than economists' expectations of 0.8 per cent. The June quarter headline rate was 0.4 per cent.

The stronger-than-expected rise sent the Australian dollar to a new 4½-month high of 97.45 US cents.

Despite the rise in some third-quarter prices, the headline year-on-year inflation rate fell to 2.2 per cent and remained comfortably near the bottom of the Reserve Bank's target band of 2 to 3 per cent.

Economists said weak demand in the domestic economy, an expected rise in unemployment and subdued(被抑制的) wages growth would keep underlying inflation low. A continued run of soft data would in turn leave the door open for the RBA to ease monetary policy further next year if it was needed to boost the economy.

Financial markets were pricing in a 6 per cent chance of a cut to the cash rate in November, down from about 11 per cent last week Credit Suisse data showed.

"The lower exchange rate has pushed up imported inflation and capped the ability of the central bank to lower the cash rate further," Moody's Analytics associate economist Katrina Ell said.

The underlying inflation, a combination of the trimmed mean and weighted median measures and one which is more closely watched by the Reserve Bank, was 0.65 per cent quarter-on-quarter and 2.3 per cent year-on-year.

"We are still in an environment where prices are growing pretty softer. Cost pressures are moderate," NAB's head of Australian economics Rob Brooker said, adding that another RBA interest rate cut could be still on the cards(有可能).

"In underlying terms, we're likely to see this sort of soft inflation environment for a little while to come."

Another rate cut might still be possible

ANZ's senior economist Riki Polygenis said the higher headline inflation rate could reduce the chances of another rate cut at the margins, especially if domestic economic data remains weak.

But she said the underlying figures were only marginally above the RBA's own forecasts, with subdued services and labour costs, as well as the recent strength of the Australian dollar, likely to keep inflation contained(牵制).

"Our view that the RBA has most likely approached the end of the easing cycle rests more on the outlook for activity, with today's inflation figures neither a justification(正当的理由)nor a hindrance (障碍)a for monetary policy changes," Ms Polygenis said in a note.

Significant price rises

Petrol prices soared by 7.6 per cent in the September quarter. International travel rose by 6.1 per cent, electricity by 4.4 per cent and property rates and charged by 7.9 per cent. Water and sewerage grew by 9.9 per cent while domestic travel prices increased by 3.5 per cent.

The Bureau of Statistics added that domestic and international travel costs increased due to the rise in airfare prices.

In contrast, vegetables prices dropped by 4.5 per cent.

Inflation rose by 1.2 per cent from July to September in Sydney, by 1.4 per cent in Melbourne and by 1.3 per cent in Brisbane. It lifted by 1.4 per cent in Adelaide and 1.2 per cent in Perth.

Price rises in Hobart, Darwin and Canberra were slightly more moderate. Prices rose by 0.9 per cent in Hobart and Darwin and by 0.6 per cent in Canberra.

In the tradeables segment, which consists of goods that have prices determined on the world markets, inflation rose by 1.2 per cent for the September quarter, driven by petrol, fruit and tobacco price rises. The strength of the Australian dollar has kept tradeables inflation low, but the currency's weakness between April and August was expected to lift prices in this component for the quarter.

The non-tradeables component - goods and services that have to be consumed where they are bought - saw a 1.1 per cent rise for the quarter on the back of higher electricity, water and sewerage costs.

MICHELLE07

Low rates boost new home sales

低利率大幅促进新房销量

30-10-2013

因受低贷款利率和前景看涨吸引，新房销售再创去年４月以来新高。新建房比8月增长6.4％，总销售也是去年6月以来最高。

新拆建房和新多层公寓销售分别增长4.5％和19.9％。新拆建房销售相比去年同季度增长了25.2％。

央行认为房市的热涨将对矿业复苏前的经济增长有利。低利率导致高房价和高拍卖清盘率，但建新房数量尚未达到过去的最高水平。

Sales of new homes boasted 自夸 their biggest monthly gain in September since April last year as low mortgage rates and the outlook for rising prices attracted more buyers, an industry survey shows.

The Housing Industry Association (HIA) said its survey of large builders showed sales of new homes jumped a seasonally adjusted 6.4 per cent in September, from August. The total level of sales was also the highest since June 2011.

Sales of new detached houses rose 4.5 per cent, while the volatile不稳定的 multi-unit sector enjoyed an increase of 19.9 per cent.

"There is clear upward momentum in detached house sales which grew by 3.7 per cent in the September quarter to be up by 25.2 per cent when compared with the same quarter last year," said HIA chief economist Harley Dale. "This September outcome is very positive."

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The news should be welcomed by the Reserve Bank which has been counting on a revival(复兴) in home construction to help support the economy as a long boom in mining investment finally peaks this year.

Record low interest rates have led to a pick-up in home prices and clearance rates at auctions, though approvals to build new homes have not yet been as strong as in past recoveries.

http://www.smh.com.au/business/r ... 20131030-2wfm7.html

Coles, Woolworths investigation 'complex': ACCC
30-10-2013

竞争监管部门对两大超市的调查案因其复杂和牵涉太深要到明年3月才有结果. 联邦政府将重审竞争法, 会专注于两大零售巨头对超市战的长期影响. 调查需要证据,同时希望保护见证者的商业关系.
虽然超市的不当行为（过度砍价）未必违背了竞争法，但可能会抑制了供应商的投资积极性和革新，从而导致长期的杂货价格上升。逐步升级的购物获得加油折扣的促销行为（目前甚至达到每升45分）令人担忧，消协不会制止购物券促销，但将对次进行调查。

The competition watchdog will delay releasing the results of an investigation into the big supermarket chains and their treatment of suppliers until next year, citing the complexity and depth of the case.

The final assessment would be completed by March, later than the estimated deadline of end-2013, the chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), Rod Sims, said in a speech in Canberra today.

Mr Sims' comments came as the Small Business Minister Bruce Billson said the federal government's "root and branch" review of the competition laws could address concerns over the long-term impact of the supermarket wars between Coles and Woolworths on suppliers and consumers.

Mr Sims said at the Australian Food and Grocery Council Industry Leaders Forum that the delay reflected the "complexity and breadth of investigations and the challenges associated with gathering evidence while safeguarding the business relationship witnesses have with the supermarket chains".

The ACC has been looking in whether the Coles and Woolworths have been engaging in "unconscionable昧着良心的,不合理的 conduct in their dealings with their suppliers" and whether they were misusing their market power by favouring their house brands.

Mr Billson told the same forum that while the supermarkets' alleged可疑的,宣称,断言 behaviour may not be found to have breached competition laws, the current situation may not be "delivering the most efficient or optimal outcomes in the market".

"We have to ask ourselves: will these price and market pressures impact on the viability 生存能力of the food and grocery industry over the long term, and will they stifle 扼杀innovation and investment by suppliers? And will this result on higher grocery prices in the longer term?" Mr Billson said.

"If unduly harsh bargaining practices are being used, they could, indeed, reduce incentives for suppliers to invest and innovate. It is these question marks over competition policy which we want to examine."

Mr Sims also criticised the supermarket giants for continuing their use of shopper docket petrol discounts despite the ACCC's previous warnings.

"I am concerned about the escalating 逐步升级 shopper docket petrol discounts, now reaching up to 45 cents per litre in some cases," Mr Sims said.

"I am also concerned that despite placing retailers on notice about our concerns, the behaviour has continued and indeed escalated."

Mr Sims added that the ACCC had no power to ban shopper dockets, and did not want the power to ban promotions. Its role was instead as an investigator of market activity, with the courts taking on the enforcement role.

MICHELLE07

05-11-2013
Share market closes higher as RBA keeps rates steady
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013- ... ates-steady/5071488
澳股收盘走高,矿业,银行,能源指数表现良好.澳元没有依据地让人不舒服地坚挺. 和预期一样, 官利保持在历史性的低点2.5%.
储行期望非矿业经济能持续增长,但步伐如何尚是未知,企业和消费者的信心是否能持续下去也不清楚.

The local share market has closed higher, but the Australian dollar has lost ground after the Reserve Bank warned the currency needs to fall in value to ensure balanced economic growth.

The RBA has left the official interest rate at the historic low of 2.5 per cent, in line with expectations.

In statement, RBA governor Glenn Stevens says the board expects non-mining growth to continue, but the pace of that growth is uncertain.

He says it is also unclear how persistent an increase in business and consumer confidence will be.

The RBA also says value of the Australian dollar remains uncomfortably high.

The Australian dollar fell by a quarter of a cent against the US dollar after the announcement.

At 5pm, it was worth 94.75 US cents.

The Australian share market has ended the day higher, with strong gains among the big miners.

The All Ordinaries index closed 0.8 per cent higher to hit 5,425 points.

The ASX 200 index ended trade up by the same margin to reach 5,432.

Rio Tinto added 1.5 per cent, while Fortescue jumped by almost 4 per cent to end the day at $5.53.

All the big banks closed higher, with Commonwealth Bank adding 1.2 per cent to close at $77.

Telstra has announced plans to list its China-based car sales website on the New York Stock Exchange.

The telco owns 72 per cent of Autohome, which it says is China's most popular online car sales service.

Documents filed with US regulators show Autohome earned about $US54 million in the first nine months of this year.

Telstra ended the day flat on $5.14.

In commodities, West Texas crude oil was had hit about $US95 a barrel at 5pm.

Tapis crude was at $US114. Spot gold was worth $US1,316 an ounce.

The Australian dollar was fetching(拿去,请来,这里是相当于的意思) 93.4 Japanese yen, 59.33 British pence, and 70.19 euro cents.

MICHELLE07

http://www.smh.com.au/business/c ... 20131113-2xf9o.html

Beijing wants to have cake and eat it too
13-11-2013

中共18届3中全会关于的改革的政策让各方人士关注，看有无值得注意的信号。尽管共产党表示会让市场那只看不见的手来调配资源、深化改革，但整个计划还是让人失望：国有部门依然扮演了很重要的角色。在表示坚定地发展和巩固国有企业的同时要促进私有经济的发展（雇佣了60％的人口）。党报发布前一天，国有资产管理委员会悄悄地撤消了中国日报关于关于允许私有资本购买国有部门15％以内股份的报道。强力支持国有部门和更好地发挥市场调控是不相符的。有官员乐观预计中国将放开私有银行经营。最令人鼓舞的坚实的一步就是成立一个深化改革的最高领导小组。邓小平提出改革开放的口号后成立的负责经济改革的委员会，他们的工作得到了肯定。目前尚不确定新的改革小组能否赶超前人步伐。党报也提及长期争议的土地改革领域。北京打算建立一个有规范的城市农村基建土地的市场体系，保证更多的农民的土地权。总的来说，改革计划没有什么新的细节。

When the Chinese Communist Party released its master plan for reform last night at the third plenum of the Eighteen Party Congress(十八界三中全会,每一届中央委员会总共召开五至六次全体会议，分别简称为“一中全会”、“二中全会”、“三中全会”、“四中全会”、“五中全会”等, ，党的全国代表大会一般每五年召开一次，我们通常简称为“XX大”。比如我们所说的“十六大”，就是“中国共产党第十六次全国代表大会”的简称。党的全国代表大会是党的最高权力机关。 党的全国代表大会选举产生的中央委员会，就是我们平时简称的“中央”、“党中央”或“中共中央”), commentators and analysts struggled to find bold( 醒目的；勇敢的，无畏的；莽撞的) reform messages to cheer for.

Though the party has promised to grant the invisible hand of the market a “decisive” role in resource allocation and to deepen reform, the plan remains largely vague 模糊的and inevitably falls short of 低于, 不满足 the heightened expectation.

The reform of the privileged state-owned sector, which sucks up disproportionate amount of resources, is widely regarded as an important litmus石蕊色素(取自地衣类的一种青色染料); 草蓝 test of Beijing’s resolve to break the reform impasse.

On this front, the party communiqué is a disappointment. It has re-affirmed the importance of the state-owned enterprises in China’s political economy.

It used the phrase “unshakably developing and consolidating the state sector", while at the same time promoting the developing the private sector, which is the most dynamic part of the economy that employs more than 60 per cent of the population.

Guan Yuqing, a noted economist and deputy head of Minsheng Securities said in a late night conference that the basic position of the state sector remained unchallenged and the reform of the state sector would likely to stay at corporate level rather than structural level.

“It is likely to have a negative impact on the markets,” he said.

Just a day before the release of the communiqué公报, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, the body overseeing a hundred odd of the largest state champions, moved swiftly to shut down a China Daily report about allowing private capital buying up to 15 per cent of shares in state-owned companies.

“Strong backing for the state sector is hard to square with 与…相符 the desire to give markets a much greater role. The party leadership may believe it can achieve both, but as long as state-owned enterprises (SOEs) retain their privileged position, markets will remain skewed不对称的, 斜的，歪的,’' said Mark Williams, chief Asia economist of Capital Economics.

However, a senior Chinese financial services executive, who is currently visiting Australia, said he was upbeat 积极乐观的 about the prospect of reform and the government would soon grant banking licenses to private sector players.

A significant move when and if it happens.

As people scramble争夺，抢夺 for hints 线索，迹象；提示，注意事项；暗示of bold reform measures, one of the most promising concrete steps is the formation of a leading group at the highest level of the party apparatus器械, 机构 to deepen reform.

A leading group is a small team of high ranking party officials overseeing an important policy area such as economy and foreign affairs.

Many commentators regard this as a positive sign that reform is taken more seriously this time around.

When Deng Xiaoping unleased the ground-breaking reforms in the 1970s and 80s, there was a structural reform commission charged with the task to reform the country’s economic system.

The body was widely lauded 称赞，赞美for its pioneering work. It is still early days to see whether the new group will be able to fill the big shoes of its predecessor.

The communiqué also touched upon an important area of land reform in China, a vexing 使烦恼, 长期争论 issue that is driving much of rural social unrest骚乱 as corrupted officials grab farmers’ land without fair compensation.

The party plan stated Beijing’s desire to establish a unified market for rural and urban construction land, which means long suffering Chinese farmers more proprietary rights over their lands, something their city cousins long enjoy.

Amid all flying accusations 谴责 of American espionage 间谍活动and escalating cyber war电脑信息战, China has formed a State Security Committee, similar to the National Security Council of the United States. The new body will oversee both domestic and foreign national security issues.

In general, there are not much new details in this new “master plan for reform”, some encouraging language but short of specifics as you would expect in a broad party policy statement.

It is still early days as the world waits for more details from the Chinese leadership.

MICHELLE07

Australian dollar drops after RBA's Glenn Stevens warning of intervention in currency markets
22-11-2013

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013- ... rba-warning/5111898

澳币继续稳定下跌，对新西兰元到达了5年来最低。
在华尔街的利好消息振奋下，资本市场上扬。各类股票都很强劲，能源类和行业股票领头。David Jones 工人罢工反对管理层的支付计划。

The Australian dollar has dropped against all the major currencies today after the Reserve Bank's governor Glenn Stevens said that intervention in currency markets by the central bank is not out of the question.

The dollar continued its steady fall and at 5pm (AEDT) it was worth 91.77 US cents.

The dollar even touched a five-year low against the New Zealand dollar, falling below $1.12.

Equities and the share market took back some recent gains, and rose off yesterday's one-month low, after gains on Wall Street buoyed sentiment振奋情绪.

The All Ordinaries added 0.9 per cent to hit 5,330, and the ASX 200 gained 48 points to reach 5,336.

All sectors were stronger with energy and industrial stocks leading the charge, following a recovery in global energy prices.

The major banks and miners averaged gains of around two thirds of a per cent.

As the Annual General Meeting season continues, David Jones chairman Peter Mason unreservedly apologised to investors angered about share trading by directors prior to the release of the company's recent results.

David Jones received its first strike against its executive pay plan with more than a quarter of investors voting against it.

If the company receive a second strike next year, the entire David Jones board will be expected to stand down.

Rio Tinto chairman Jan du Plessis was today spruiking当众滔滔不绝地讲话 the new Federal Government's direct action plan on climate change.

Mr du Plessis told a British Chamber of Commerce gathering in Sydney the mining giant is talking to the government regularly on some of the ideas for direct action.

In the commodities market, West Texas Crude has strengthened overnight to close at $US95.03 a barrel.

Singapore's Tapis 织锦 has risen two dollars to $US119 and spot gold has edged up to $US1,244 an ounce.

MICHELLE07

Foreign investors push first home buyers out of property market
27 Nov 2013
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013- ... erty-market/5120966

There are concerns that foreign interest in Australian residential property is pushing up prices, making it harder for local first home buyers to enter the market.

Chinese interest in Australian residential property is booming, with chief executive of McGrath Estate Agents John McGrath describing it as the biggest surge from an offshore market in his 30 years in real estate.

"In some suburbs 90 per cent of new product will sell to Chinese buyers," he said.

Cashed-up buyers are snapping up 争购everything from luxury harbour-side property in Sydney to apartments bought off the plan in Sydney, Melbourne the Gold Coast and Perth.

Monika Tu from Black Diamondz Concierge Service in Sydney saw an opportunity at the high end of the market.

Ms Tu finds properties for wealthy Chinese clients and helps them settle in to Australia. She will look after everything from housing, to finding schools, to buying investment art.

Ms Tu invited the ABC's 7.30 program along as she showed client Amy Wong a property on Sydney's lower north shore, on the market for $13 million.

"I decided to move family here for the education and for the lifestyle," Ms Wong said.

"This is just a beautiful place to be."

But not everyone welcomes the new buyers. Buyer's agent Patrick Bright says he refuses to help non-residents find property.

"Why should we sell off the farm if you like, or sell off the city," he said.

"It's not like we are struggling for people to buy these properties, because we've got an undersupply, [that] is what all the associations keep telling us."

Foreign investors 'only part of the equation'

Financial analyst Martin North agrees there is a shortage of residential property, which is forcing up prices and making it even tougher for first home buyers.

But he says foreign investors are only part of the equation.

"First home buyers find they can't afford to buy because prices are too high," Mr North said.

"Also when you attend an auction you discover that investors from overseas, local investors and baby boomers are all also trying to buy the same property."

When 7.30 attended the second-stage release of a new apartment complex in Sydney's south, there was a long queue of would-be buyers waiting for the opening of the sales office.

CBRE Real Estate's Tim Rees says they sold 250 units in the first release in three hours.

"Today, we sold another 50," he said.

"We have got first home buyers strong in the market, there are investors, 60 per cent owner-occupiers, 40 per cent investors."

Under Foreign Investment Review Board guidelines, if a developer has pre-approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board, 100 per cent of apartments in a new development can be sold to foreigners.

According to Mr North some developers target the international market.

"In some cases there are developers who are essentially building directly to sell to China and they are advertising on websites over in China and using Chinese connections to sell off the plan," he said.

Mr McGrath believes the business is good for the market.

"I think it is quite centralised in certain pockets, so I don't think it is doing great damage or harming local buyers' opportunities to buy here still," he said.

Mr North believes the key problem is the shortage of residential property in Australia and says there need to be policy changes to ensure that a large group of Australians do not become life-long renters.

"We have five trillion in property in Australia, it is a massive economic engine for us," he said.

"But we need to be clear about how we are going to manage that effectively for the greater good of Australia."