Copper's future bright despite rout

Mark Mulligan Investors should look at exposure to copper to capitalise on China's transition from heavy industry and exports to more consumer-driven growth.

Aussie dollar resists commodities rout – for now

Mark Mulligan The Australian dollar has confounded traders by holding steady despite further commodities weakness and a strong chance that the US Federal Reserve will mext month lift interest rates for the first...

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RBA minutes point to China doubts

Mark Mulligan The RBA board notes the "outlook for the Asian region, particularly China, remained one of the key uncertainties in forecasting global growth".

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Reserve Bank of Australia: scope for commodity price rebound 'limited'

Mark Mulligan China's transition away from heavy industry and exports to a more consumer-driven growth model has left little scope for a recovery in commodity prices, the Reserve Bank of Australia has warned.

Iron ore drops to four-month low as Chinese demand weakens

Mark Mulligan The price of iron slipped to a new four-month low on Monday night, as demand from China for Australia's biggest single export continued to soften amid slowing steel production in the world's...

Reserve Bank of Australia will have to cut again as consumers struggle

Mark Mulligan Last week's surprisingly good jobs data convinced even the most bearish economists that the Reserve Bank of Australia is now less likely to cut the cash rate again, but one expert has his doubts.

Renminbi's IMF backing to spur market access

Mark Mulligan China looks set to have its renminbi anointed as an International Monetary Fund reserve currency, in a milestone for Beijing with big implications for the international monetary order.

Three things for investors to watch this week

Mark Mulligan The S&P;/ASX 200 is expected to open below 5000 for the first time since late-September as Friday night's terrorist attacks in Paris weigh on investor mood.

Paris attack: Shaky markets set to tumble

Mark Mulligan Stocks are expected to fall across the world on Monday as investors seek out safe havens.

Unemployment dives below 6 per cent

Mark Mulligan The jobless rate dived below 6 per cent for only the second time in 16 months in October, after a surge in the actual number of people employed, according to the Australian Bureau of...

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Chinese 'low-level' banking crisis biggest threat to global economy

Mark Mulligan China is on the verge of a "credit event" that authorities will tightly manage to maintain the country's financial stability, says JPMorgan's chief Asian and emerging markets equity...

How to pick winners from China's great transition

Mark Mulligan Janus Asia's Hiroshi Yoh likes to keep it simple in China and right now that means outbound tourism, online shopping and cars. "I've found some real diamonds."

The Turnbull effect: consumer sentiment close to two-year high

Mark Mulligan The glass-half-full-brigade wins the day as shoppers are gearing up for Christmas, the latest Westpac Melbourne Institute survey finds.

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Lending to housing investors drops away

Mark Mulligan Lending restrictions, higher mortgage rates and falling returns have cooled investor demand for housing finance, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Turnbull effect short-lived for business confidence

Mark Mulligan Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's boost to business confidence has all but dissolved, according to the latest National Australia Bank monthly survey.

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Beware sentiment surveys, warns Goldman Sachs

Mark Mulligan New "normals" are being created every day by surveys that are often an inaccurate gauge of long-term trends, says Goldman Sachs.

Fed rise not enough to cool US equities, says Citi

Mark Mulligan US shares have not peaked, according Citigroup's chief US equity strategist, who argues prices won't dim until the Fed is "three or four" rate hikes into its tightening cycle.

Perfect storm wipes $27 billion off Australian shares

Mark Mulligan and Vesna Poljak More than $27 billion was wiped off Australian shares on Monday after the prospect of higher US interest rates drove the Aussie dollar down, undermined commodity prices and cut the chances of another...

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Australian dollar under pressure as Fed prepares for lift-off

Mark Mulligan The Australian dollar was flat on Monday, as a dearth of data triggers left the local unit adrift in the wake of strong US payroll numbers on Friday and weak Chinese trade data on Sunday.