DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Australia's first female central bank chief set to tackle reforms and cost of living crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Hong Kong CNN —Australia’s new central bank chief, Michele Bullock, took the helm Monday after a firestorm of criticism over rising living costs engulfed the tenure of her predecessor. Philip Lowe, former governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, speaking in Canberra in August. “Raising interest rates is never popular, but I think given the circumstances, the Reserve Bank had to do something,” noted Oliver. Within the bank, Lowe also faced questions about the culture he’d fostered since taking over in 2016. Should prices fall more slowly than expected, the central bank would face similar pressure to raise rates, Oliver predicted.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Michele Bullock, Bullock, Philip Lowe, Shane Oliver, ”, would’ve, wasn’t, Lowe, Oliver, Rohan Thomson, RBA, Nick McKim, ” McKim, “ It’s, ” Oliver, disempowered, ” Bullock, ” Lowe, — Hilary Whiteman Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Reserve Bank of Australia, AMP, CNN, Bloomberg, Getty, Reserve Bank Locations: Hong Kong, Australian, Canberra, Ukraine, Australia, United States, Europe

☆ Bullock takes over at Australia central bank with soft landing in sight
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( Stella Qiu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] Incoming RBA Governor Michele Bullock delivers the Sir Leslie Melville Public Lecture at the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia, August 29, 2023 in this handout image. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has been on hold for three months after raising interest rates aggressively for more than a year. The tightening has slowed Australia's growth, but analysts think the economy could still achieve a soft landing. If Australia avoids recession and delivers a soft landing, history may judge outgoing Governor Philip Lowe more kindly. In the search to replace Bullock as deputy, Chalmers has indicated the government is looking at candidates inside and outside the central bank.

Persons: Michele Bullock, Leslie Melville, Tracey Nearmy, Bullock, it's, Cherelle Murphy, Philip Lowe, Lowe, Jim Chalmers, Chalmers, Stephen Halmarick, Stella Qiu, William Mallard Organizations: Australian National University, ANU, REUTERS, Rights, Reserve Bank of Australia, EY Oceania, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Thomson Locations: Canberra, Australia, Handout, New Zealand, Germany, Europe's, COVID

☆ Crunch time after string of aggressive central bank rate hikes
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Major central banks have confounded economists with a string of interest rate rises that, so far, have moderated inflation without causing global recession. So far, nine developed economies have raised rates by a combined 3,915 bps in this cycle. Reuters Graphics2) NEW ZEALANDThe Reserve Bank of New Zealand lifted its cash rate to a 14-year high of 5.5% in May and has kept it there since. Reuters Graphics7) AUSTRALIAThe Reserve Bank of Australia kept rates steady at 4.1% for a third consecutive meeting in September, the last under former Governor Philip Lowe. Reuters Graphics10) JAPANThe Bank of Japan, the world's most dovish major central bank, meets next week.

Persons: BoE, Macklem, Philip Lowe, Lowe's, Michele Bullock, Naomi Rovnick, Harry Robertson, Samuel Indyk, Nell Mackenzie, Alun John, Yoruk Bahceli, Chiara Elisei, Vincent Flasseur, Sumanta Sen, Pasit, Dhara Ranasinghe, Sharon Singleton Organizations: European Central Bank, U.S . Federal Reserve, UNITED, Reuters, Federal Reserve, Reserve Bank of, BRITAIN, of England, CANADA Bank of Canada, Bank of Canada, ECB, Norges Bank, SWEDEN Traders, Swiss, Bank of Japan, Thomson Locations: U.S, Japan, Reserve Bank of New Zealand, NORWAY, Reserve Bank of Australia, SWEDEN, Swedish, SWITZERLAND Swiss, JAPAN

☆ RBA to hold rates at 4.10% on Tuesday, but will hike again next quarter: Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Devayani Sathyan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Two respondents in the Aug 30-Sept 1 poll expected a 25 basis point (bps) hike. Among major local banks, ANZ, CBA, and Westpac expected rates to remain unchanged until at least end-2023, while NAB predicted one more rate hike to 4.35% in November. Three economists expected two more 25 bps hikes in the fourth quarter. While BlackRock and Deutsche Bank expected hikes in November and December, Citi expected moves in October and November. "We think they'll maintain the tightening bias and there may be further risk of a rate hike later in the year," said Benjamin Picton, senior strategist at Rabobank.

Persons: Daniel Munoz, Taylor Nugent, Michele Bullock's, Benjamin Picton, Devayani Sathyan, Susobhan Sarkar, Anant Chandak, Ross Finley, Kim Coghill Organizations: Reserve Bank of Australia, REUTERS, Rights, NAB, ANZ, CBA, Westpac, BlackRock, Deutsche Bank, Citi, Rabobank, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia

☆ Take Five: A September to remember?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., August 29, 2023. 1/ SCARY SEPTEMBERNow the Federal Reserve's Jackson Hole confab is over, investors are strapping in for a potentially volatile month. Reuters Graphics2/ THE SICK MAN OF EUROPEGermany looks likely to be the only major economy to contract this year. No wonder the region's economic powerhouse is once again being called the sick man of Europe. But economists are sceptical, noting that at just 0.2% of GDP, the package is no game-changer and that the sick man will need more medicine.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Ira Iosebashvili, Kevin Buckland, Dhara Ranasinghe, Libby George, Naomi Rovnick, Jackson, Jerome Powell, Olaf Scholz, Xi Jinping, Philip Lowe, Michele Bullock, BoE, Amanda Cooper, John Stonestreet Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Federal, Reuters, ECB, Germany's, Reserve Bank of Australia, Traders, Bank of, British Retail Consortium, Reuters Graphics, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Ira, New York, Tokyo, London, Germany, Europe, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Zambia, Delhi, China, Bullock, Bank of England, Halifax

REUTERS/Loren Elliott Acquire Licensing RightsAug 30 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever, financial markets columnist. Australian inflation, Japanese consumer confidence and German inflation figures later in the day are the main data points on Wednesday's economic calendar that could move Asian markets, which have started the week on a roll. A series of measures from China aimed at boosting domestic stock markets have had an immediate effect - China's benchmark index of blue chip stocks on Tuesday posted back-to-back gains of 1% or more for the first time since January. Money markets quickly swiped off the table expectations of another rate hike this year, short-dated yields plunged and stocks boomed. Put all that together and there is every reason to believe Asian markets will open in the green on Wednesday.

Persons: Loren Elliott, Jamie McGeever, Cryptocurrencies, Gina Raimondo, Michele Bullock, Josie Kao Organizations: REUTERS, Money, Nasdaq, Securities and Exchange, Stock Connect, U.S . Commerce, Bank of China, Incoming, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Sydney, Australia, China, U.S, Japan, Germany

☆ Australia holds rates steady, might be done tightening
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Stella Qiu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Markets had leaned toward a steady outcome given recent data showed inflation had eased for a second quarter and consumer spending was softening. However, economists were more split on the outcome, with 20 out of 36 polled by Reuters expecting a hike. Swaps now implied a risk of around 13 basis points of tightening by year end. In a relief for policymakers, headline inflation slowed more than expected in the second quarter while retail sales posted their biggest fall this year in June. "While the RBA retains a tightening bias, we expect the hurdle to another rate hike is high.

Persons: Philip Lowe, Lowe, Michele Bullock, Belinda Allen, Goldman Sachs, Hebe Chen, Stella Qiu, Wayne Cole, Anisha Sircar, Sam Holmes Organizations: SYDNEY, Reserve Bank of Australia, Reuters, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, CBA, National Australia Bank, IG, Reuters Global Markets, Thomson

☆ Big central banks hike again with end in sight
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

To date, nine developed economies have raised rates by a combined 3,840 basis points (bps) in this cycle. Expectations for a big rate increase have eased after latest data showed inflation fell to a softer-than-expected 7.9% in June. Markets think there's a 50% chance of a 25 bps increase in September, and an equal chance of a hold. Reuters Graphics10) JAPANThe Bank of Japan, the world's most dovish major central bank, concludes a two-day meeting on Friday. The central bank is leaning towards keeping the dial set to dovish, Reuters reported last week.

Persons: Jerome Powell, BoE, Philip Lowe's, Michele Bullock, Riksbank, Kazuo Ueda, Nell Mackenzie, Alun John, Naomi Rovnick, Harry Robertson, Chiara Elisei, Vincent Flasseur, Sumanta Sen, Pasit, Sharon Singleton Organizations: UNITED, Federal Reserve, ZEALAND, Reserve Bank of New, Reuters, BRITAIN, Bank of England, Bank of Canada, BoC, European Central Bank, Norges Bank, bps, Swiss National Bank, Markets, Bank of Japan, Thomson Locations: Japan, Reserve Bank of New Zealand, AUSTRALIA, NORWAY, Norway, SWEDEN, SWITZERLAND, JAPAN

☆ Australia jobs jump again, heaping pressure on RBA
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The jobless rate held at a downwardly revised 3.5%, when analysts had expected 3.6%, leaving it just above the 3.4% trough from October last year. Markets moved to priced in a 42% probability that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) would resume hiking rates in August, compared with 35% before the jobs data. Incoming RBA Governor Michele Bullock has said the jobless rate would need to rise to about 4.5% to curb inflation. "The hotter-than-expected jobs numbers... leave no room whatsoever for an upside surprise in next Wednesday's Q2 CPI data. However, pressure on the RBA to keep pace with its overseas counterparts on rate hikes has eased somewhat in recent weeks.

Persons: Michele Bullock, Tony Sycamore, Marcel Thieliant, Stella Qiu, Wayne Cole, Jacqueline Wong, Jamie Freed Organizations: SYDNEY, Australian Bureau, Statistics, Reserve Bank of Australia, Incoming, IG, Capital Economics, Reserve, European Central Bank, Bank of England, Thomson Locations: Australia

☆ Australia picks first female central bank head to shepherd through reform
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Wayne Cole | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Lowe will leave on Sept. 17, marking the end of his 43-year career at the bank. The decision comes as Lowe is due to accompany Chalmers to a Group of 20 meeting in India next week. "Michele Bullock will become the first woman to ever lead the Reserve Bank in this country." His two predecessors, again both career central bankers, were reappointed to second terms and each served 10 years in total. "The Reserve Bank is in very good hands as it deals with the current inflation challenge and implementing the recommendations of the Review of the RBA," Lowe said in a statement on Friday.

Persons: Michele Bullock, Governor Bullock, Philip Lowe, Jim Chalmers, Anthony Albanese, Lowe, Chalmers, Bullock, Tony Sycamore, She’s, Wayne Cole, Renju Jose, Praveen Menon Organizations: SYDNEY, Reserve Bank of Australia, Reserve Bank, Bank, London School of Economics, IG Group, Aussie, Thomson Locations: Australia, India, Sydney, Lincoln

☆ Asia stocks set for best week of 2023, dollar reels on dovish Fed bets
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Kevin Buckland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Gold was poised for its best week in three months as the dollar floundered, while crude oil rose to the highest in nearly three months. U.S. E-mini equity futures also pointed to a 0.16% lower restart for the S&P 500 (.SPX), after the index rallied 0.85% overnight. Meanwhile, the U.S. dollar index - which measures the currency against six major peers - edged about 0.1% lower to touch 99.637 for the first time since April of last year. "The dollar index can probably trade down toward 98 over the coming weeks without too many problems," said IG's Sycamore. It has rallied nearly 2% this week.

Persons: Gold, we've, Tony Sycamore, HSI, Korea's, Michele Bullock, Kevin Buckland, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Federal, Treasury, IG, Japan's Nikkei, U.S, Bank of Japan's, Reserve Bank of Australia, Brent, . West Texas, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Sydney, Asia, Pacific, Japan, Australia

SYDNEY, July 14 (Reuters) - Reserve Bank Deputy Governor Michele Bullock will take over from Governor Philip Lowe in September and has already flagged that leading the country's central bank through a period of change will be a major priority. Bullock, the first woman to helm the country's central bank, will have the task of leading the bank through its biggest internal shakeup in decades while also maintaining the fight against inflation. "I wasn't sure I would ever be in this position," Bullock said in a 2022 interview with her alma mater. "I never thought that Guy Debelle, who was the deputy governor, would leave the Bank. A review into the central bank published in April recommended sweeping changes including the setup of a separate specialist board to manage monetary policy, less frequent meetings and more public communication.

Persons: Michele Bullock, Philip Lowe, Bullock, Anthony Albanese, Jim Chalmers, Michele, Jonathan Kearns, Bullock's, Guy Debelle, Lowe, Su, Lin Ong, Lewis Jackson, Stella Qiu, Praveen Menon Organizations: SYDNEY, Reserve Bank, University of New, London School of Economics, Challenger, RBC Capital Markets, Thomson Locations: University of New England, Armidale, Sydney, Lincoln

☆ Australia govt appoints Michele Bullock as next central bank governor
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Wayne Cole | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, July 14 (Reuters) - Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers on Friday said he would not reappoint the country's central bank chief to another term, instead replacing him with his deputy Michele Bullock. Chalmers and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Governor Philip Lowe would leave the bank after finishing his current seven-year term on Sept. 17, marking the end of his 43-year career. "Michele Bullock will become the first woman to ever lead the Reserve Bank in this country." The central bank has since lifted rates 12 times to a decade-high of 4.1%, adding hundreds of dollars to monthly mortgage repayments at a time when a cost of living crisis is already stretching household budgets. His two predecessors, again both career central bankers, were reappointed to second terms and each served 10 years in total.

Persons: Jim Chalmers, Michele Bullock, Chalmers, Anthony Albanese, Philip Lowe, Bullock, Lowe, Wayne Cole, Renju Jose, Leslie Adler, Jamie Freed Organizations: SYDNEY, Bank of Australia, Reserve Bank, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Lincoln

☆ Morning Bid: Relief over US inflation keeps Asia upbeat
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A woman shops for groceries at El Progreso Market in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood of Washington, D.C., U.S., August 19, 2022. Indeed, Friday's rise in the yen put it within striking distance of its converging 100-day and 200-day moving averages near 137.00 to the dollar. The Reserve Bank of Australia was also in the spotlight in Asia, with the much-anticipated announcement of its next governor. The rest of the day is light on economic data with euro zone May trade, U.S. export and import prices and University of Michigan consumer sentiment the main releases. But it's a bumper day for bank earnings as JPMorgan Chase (JPM.N), Citigroup (C.N), Wells Fargo (WFC.N) and BlackRock (BLK.N) are all due to report second-quarter results.

Persons: Sarah Silbiger, Sonali Desai, Michele Bullock, JPMorgan Chase, Luis de Guindos, Edmund Klamann Organizations: El Progreso Market, Washington , D.C, REUTERS, Treasury, Bank of, People's Bank of China, The Reserve Bank of Australia, University of Michigan, JPMorgan, Citigroup, BlackRock, Hollywood, Central Bank, JPMorgan Chase, Thomson Locations: Mount Pleasant, Washington ,, Asia, Japan Asia, U.S, Wells Fargo, Brussels U.S

☆ Dollar at 15-month low as easing inflation firms rate peak bets
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The dollar index , which measures the U.S. currency against six major rivals, stood at 99.71 in early Asian hours, its lowest since April 2022. "Markets are generally pretty pleasant with the lower inflation data, because lower inflation together with the still resilient labour market supports the narrative of a soft landing in the U.S. economy," said Carol Kong, currency strategist at Commonwealth Bank Of Australia in Sydney. Ryan Brandham, head of global capital markets, North America, at Validus Risk Management, said the data on weekly jobless claims and producer prices are supportive of the soft landing. Although the recent trend of lower inflation may be encouraging, it probably won't be sufficient to change the committee's decision." The Japanese yen strengthened 0.23% to 137.71 per dollar and is on course for its best week against the dollar since January.

Persons: Carol Kong, Ryan Brandham, Christopher Waller, he's, Michele Bullock, bitcoin Organizations: US, Federal Reserve, Commonwealth Bank Of Australia, Risk, Fed Locations: U.S, Sydney, North America, Ethereum

☆ New Aussie central bank boss faces two-front war
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Antony Currie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MELBOURNE, July 14 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Michele Bullock cannot count on a honeymoon period when she takes over at the Reserve Bank of Australia in September. The country’s Treasurer Jim Chalmers on Friday unveiled her appointment as the central bank’s first female governor after deciding not to extend gaffe-prone Philip Lowe’s seven-year tenure. By the time she steps up, Bullock, currently deputy governor, will probably face an economic war on two fronts. Lowe is a fall guy for the failure by global central banks to take rising prices seriously following the pandemic. Follow @AntonyMCurrie on TwitterCONTEXT NEWSMichele Bullock will be the next governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, the country’s Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced on July 14.

Persons: Michele Bullock, Jim Chalmers, Philip Lowe’s, Bullock, Lowe, Chalmers, Philip Lowe, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: MELBOURNE, Reuters, Reserve Bank of Australia, Consumer, Thomson Locations: Australia

☆ Australia appoints Michele Bullock as next central bank governor
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Australia has appointed Michele Bullock as the ninth governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, the country's Treasury announced July 14. Australia has appointed Michele Bullock as the ninth governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, the country's Treasury said Friday. Bullock, currently deputy governor of the central bank, becomes the first woman to lead the Australian central bank in its 63-year history, the Australian Treasury said in a statement. "I am committed to ensuring that the Reserve Bank delivers on its policy and operational objectives for the benefit of the Australian people." The RBA is Australia's central bank and banknote issuing authority.

Persons: Michele Bullock, Bullock, Philip Lowe, Lowe, Jim Chalmers Organizations: Reserve Bank of Australia, country's Treasury, Treasury, Australian Treasury, Reserve Bank Locations: Australia, Australian

☆ CNBC Daily Open: The S&P 500 may hit a record high
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Yeo Boon Ping | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Visitors around the 'Charging Bull' statue near the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, US, on Thursday, June 29, 2023. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Excluding food, energy and trade services, the core producer price index rose 0.1%, lower than the forecasted 0.2%. Celsius chargesFormer Celsius CEO Alex Mashinsky was arrested Thursday on federal securities fraud charges, a source told CNBC. CNBC Pro searched for companies that analysts are bullish on, and which are due to report earnings next week.

Persons: Michele Bullock, Bob Iger, CNBC's David Faber, Iger, Alex Mashinsky Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, CNBC, U.S, Singapore's Straits Times, Reserve Bank of Australia, Disney, ABC, ESPN, Marvel, Star Wars, SEC, CNBC Pro Locations: New York, Asia, Pacific, Australia

☆ Australia's central bank loses chief to public ire over rates
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Wayne Cole | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Lowe's dedication to the bank is not in doubt, having joined straight from school in 1980. The first mainly impacted markets while the second, and more fateful, soured sentiment with the public and politicians. A later review found the event had caused the bank "reputational damage" and the policy was unlikely to be used again. Lowe's mistake in 2021 was to be too specific on timing by repeatedly saying rates were unlikely to rise until 2024. With prices rising rapidly, Lowe was forced to reverse course and hike rates in May, a whole two years earlier than forecast.

Persons: Philip Lowe it's, Lowe, I'm, we'd, Jim Chalmers, Chalmers, Lowe's, Michele Bullock, Bullock, Wayne Cole, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: SYDNEY, Reserve Bank of Australia, MIT, Reserve Bank, Thomson Locations: Australia, Lincoln

☆ Australia cabinet will soon decide on next RBA governor - treasurer
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Renju Jose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, July 12 (Reuters) - Australia Treasurer Jim Chalmers said on Wednesday the cabinet would meet soon to decide the next governor of the country's central bank, after local media reported that a government decision could be reached as early as this week. "Soon, I'll be taking to cabinet my recommendation for the appointment of the governor of the reserve bank. I don't want to front-run or pre-empt the timing or nature of that conversation with my colleagues," Chalmers told reporters. Chalmers added that the government has also held preliminary discussions with the opposition over the next RBA governor. But again, I don't want to pre-empt the conversation with my cabinet colleagues," Chalmers told ABC Radio.

Persons: Jim Chalmers, Chalmers, Philip Lowe's, Lowe, We've, Governor Lowe, Michele Bullock, Jenny Wilkinson, Renju Jose, Edmund Klamann Organizations: SYDNEY, Bank of Australia, Sydney Morning Herald, ABC Radio, Thomson Locations: India, Sydney

☆ Factbox: Potential candidates as next chief of Australia's central bank
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Wayne Cole | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, July 5 (Reuters) - The Australian government will announce this month whether it would reappoint Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Governor Philip Lowe or replace him. * Michele Bullock, 60, became the first female Deputy Governor of the RBA when she was appointed in the role in April 2022. She studied economics at the University of New England and a masters from the London School of Economics. He studied economics at Sydney University, and completed a PhD in health economics at the Australian National University. He has PhD degrees in physiology from Cambridge University and in economics from the Australian National University.

Persons: Philip Lowe, Michele Bullock, Bullock, RBA, Steven Kennedy, Kennedy, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Jenny Wilkinson, David Gruen, Wilkinson, Gruen, Martin Parkinson, Guy Debelle, Fortescue, Australia's, Debelle, Andrew, Carolyn Wilkins, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: SYDNEY, Australian, Reserve Bank of Australia, University of New, London School of Economics, Treasury, Labor, Sydney University, Australian National University, government's Department of Finance, Parliamentary, ANU, Princeton, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Cambridge University, Macquarie University, Department of Prime, Adelaide University, Fortescue Future Industries, University of Adelaide, MIT, Bank of Canada, Thomson Locations: University of New England

☆ Australia markets in the dark as clock ticks down on govt choice of RBA chief
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Wayne Cole | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Markets are still in the dark whether Treasurer Jim Chalmers will reappoint Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Governor Philip Lowe or bow to public pressure for a new pair of hands at an institution that stumbled over its policy messaging during the pandemic. "Markets would be more concerned if there wasn't that list," noted Shane Oliver, chief economist at AMP Capital. They are among the front runners in part because there is much pressure for Chalmers to appoint the first female head of the RBA. One dark horse also being mentioned is Guy Debelle, a former RBA deputy governor who resigned last year to join the green energy business of mining billionaire Andrew Forrest. It is possible Chalmers could reappoint Lowe for a shorter period to see out the RBA's current tightening cycle and planned changes in its operation and structure.

Persons: missteps, Jim Chalmers, Philip Lowe, Chalmers, Lowe, Shane Oliver, Michele Bullock, Jenny Wilkinson, Guy Debelle, Andrew Forrest, reappoint Lowe, AMP's Oliver, Wayne Cole, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: SYDNEY, Reserve Bank of Australia, Chalmers, Markets, AMP, Thomson

☆ Australia to decide fate of central bank chief in July
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Wayne Cole | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Philip Lowe attends the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia, 16 July 2022. Treasurer Jim Chalmers told reporters on Thursday he would announce his decision on Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Governor Philip Lowe's future in coming weeks, but would not be drawn on whether Lowe would keep his job. The clamour of criticism, particularly in the media, led Chalmers to launch an independent review of the central bank which recommended sweeping changes in its operation and the way policy was formed. "Obviously, the Reserve Bank Governor needs to be well placed to implement the recommendations of the review and to take the Reserve Bank into the future," said Chalmers. Possible replacements being touted are the current deputy governor Michele Bullock, Treasury official Jenny Wilkinson and former Bank of Canada official Carolyn Wilkins, who also led the review into the RBA.

Persons: Philip Lowe, Jim Chalmers, Philip Lowe's, Lowe, I’m, we'd, Chalmers, Michele Bullock, Jenny Wilkinson, Carolyn Wilkins, Wayne Cole, Renju Jose, Leslie Adler Organizations: Reserve Bank of Australia, Ministers, Central Bank Governors, Reserve Bank Governor, Bank, Treasury, Bank of Canada, Thomson Locations: Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia

☆ Australia jobs beat forecasts, boosting case for more rate hikes
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Wayne Cole | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Thursday showed net employment rose 32,200 in October from September, when they fell a revised 3,800. That came as a surprise to many analysts who had looked for a gain of only 15,000. Full-time employment jumped 47,100, bringing total job gains for the 12 months to October to a massive 762,000. That would bring the total tightening since May to 300 basis points, easily the most aggressive in modern history. Reporting by Wayne Cole; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Ana Nicolaci da CostaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Australia's central bank says nearer to point when it can wait on rates
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, Nov 10 (Reuters) - A top official of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) said on Thursday it might be getting nearer to the point when it might be able to "sit and wait" on raising interest rates, but more evidence was needed that demand was slowing as desired. Answering questions before parliament, RBA Deputy Governor Michele Bullock said interest rates had already risen substantially in a short period of time and were expected to rise further, but that would depend on the flow of economic data. "We think interest rates will probably have to go up a little bit further, but we're not set on our timing and we're not set on the amount," she added. The RBA has raised its cash rate by 275 basis points since May, taking it to a nine-year high of 2.85%. Markets are wagering on another hike of 25 basis points in December, with around a 20% chance the RBA might hold steady.

Search resuls for: "Michele Bullock"

25 mentions found