Wednesday, 25 May 2011
Tuesday, 3 May 2011
AUSTRALIA LEAVES INTEREST RATE UNCHANGED
Published: 5/3/2011 8:34:54 AM
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Reserve Bank of Australia decided on May 2 to leave its benchmark interest rate at 4.75 percent as a record-high currency helped contain the temporary spike in consumer prices due to natural disasters.
AUSTRALIA'S UNEMPLOYMENT DROPS TO 4.9% IN MARCH
Published: 4/7/2011 10:16:45 AM
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The number of people unemployed decreased by 10,200 people to 592,900 in March.
The ABS monthly aggregate hours worked series showed an increase in March, up 13.1 million hours to 1618.3 million hours.
Labour force participation was 65.8 per cent in March, an increase of 0.1 percentage points from February.
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The seasonally adjusted Australian unemployment rate decreased 0.1 percentage points to 4.9 per cent in March, as announced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on April 7.
The ABS reported the number of people employed increased 37,800 people to 11.457 million in March. The increase in employment was driven by an increase in full-time employment, up 32,100 people to 8.106 million, and an increase in part-time employment, up 5,700 people to 3.351 million.The number of people unemployed decreased by 10,200 people to 592,900 in March.
The ABS monthly aggregate hours worked series showed an increase in March, up 13.1 million hours to 1618.3 million hours.
Labour force participation was 65.8 per cent in March, an increase of 0.1 percentage points from February.
AUSTRALIA LEAVES INTEREST RATE UNCHANGEDAUSTRALIA LEAVES INTEREST RATE UNCHANGED
Published: 3/2/2011 10:22:24 AM
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Australia's terms of trade are at their highest level since the early 1950s and national income is growing strongly. Private investment is picking up, mainly in the resources sector, in response to high levels of commodity prices. In the household sector thus far, in contrast, there continues to be caution in spending and borrowing, and a higher rate of saving out of current income. The effects of the natural disasters over the summer have reduced output, but production levels should recover over the months ahead, and there will be a mild boost to demand from the rebuilding efforts as they get under way.
Asset values have generally been little changed over recent months and overall credit growth remains quite subdued, notwithstanding evidence of some greater willingness to lend. Business balance sheets generally are being strengthened, and the run-up in household leverage has abated.
The labour market firmed in 2010, with unusually strong growth in employment and a decline in the rate of unemployment. Most leading indicators suggest further growth in employment, though most likely at a slower pace. Reports of skills shortages remain confined, at this point, to the resources and related sectors. After the significant decline in 2009, growth in wages has returned to rates seen prior to the downturn.
Inflation is consistent with the medium-term objective of monetary policy, having declined significantly from its peak in 2008. These moderate outcomes are being assisted by the high level of the exchange rate, the earlier decline in wages growth and strong competition in some key markets, which have worked to offset large rises in utilities prices. Production losses due to weather are temporarily raising prices for some agricultural produce, but these should fall back later in the year. Overall, looking through these temporary effects, the Bank expects that inflation over the year ahead will continue to be consistent with the 2–3 per cent target.
At today's meeting, the Board judged that the current mildly restrictive stance of monetary policy remained appropriate in view of the general macroeconomic outlook.
By:
Reserve Bank of Australia decided on March 1 to maintain its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 4.75%.
The global economy is continuing its expansion, led by very strong growth in the Asian region. Commodity prices have risen further over recent months, pushing up measures of consumer price inflation in many countries. A number of countries have been moving to tighten their monetary policy settings. Overall, though, financial conditions for the global economy remain accommodative.Australia's terms of trade are at their highest level since the early 1950s and national income is growing strongly. Private investment is picking up, mainly in the resources sector, in response to high levels of commodity prices. In the household sector thus far, in contrast, there continues to be caution in spending and borrowing, and a higher rate of saving out of current income. The effects of the natural disasters over the summer have reduced output, but production levels should recover over the months ahead, and there will be a mild boost to demand from the rebuilding efforts as they get under way.
Asset values have generally been little changed over recent months and overall credit growth remains quite subdued, notwithstanding evidence of some greater willingness to lend. Business balance sheets generally are being strengthened, and the run-up in household leverage has abated.
The labour market firmed in 2010, with unusually strong growth in employment and a decline in the rate of unemployment. Most leading indicators suggest further growth in employment, though most likely at a slower pace. Reports of skills shortages remain confined, at this point, to the resources and related sectors. After the significant decline in 2009, growth in wages has returned to rates seen prior to the downturn.
Inflation is consistent with the medium-term objective of monetary policy, having declined significantly from its peak in 2008. These moderate outcomes are being assisted by the high level of the exchange rate, the earlier decline in wages growth and strong competition in some key markets, which have worked to offset large rises in utilities prices. Production losses due to weather are temporarily raising prices for some agricultural produce, but these should fall back later in the year. Overall, looking through these temporary effects, the Bank expects that inflation over the year ahead will continue to be consistent with the 2–3 per cent target.
At today's meeting, the Board judged that the current mildly restrictive stance of monetary policy remained appropriate in view of the general macroeconomic outlook.
Monday, 2 May 2011
Pierce ejected for 'verbal taunt' in Game 1
Pierce ejected for 'verbal taunt' in Game 1
Posted May 1 2011 9:00PM
MIAMI (AP) -- Paul Pierce got hit - and then run.
Boston's captain was ejected with seven minutes left in Game 1 of the Celtics' Eastern Conference semifinal series on Sunday afternoon after picking up two technical fouls on separate plays in the fourth quarter.
Referee Ed Malloy called a double-technical - and in Pierce's case, it was his second, meaning his night was over.
"It's what we call a verbal taunt," crew chief Dan Crawford said. "He directed profanity towards Wade. And in the rulebook, that is a verbal taunt. And it just so happened to be Pierce's second technical foul."
Miami won the game, 99-90. Game 2 is Tuesday. Pierce did not speak with reporters after the game.
Pierce's first technical came after he was fouled by James Jones on the right wing, a play where Jones made some contact with Pierce's head.
He took exception with that, as did Celtics coach Doc Rivers afterward.
"James Jones was a clear flagrant," Rivers said. "He went right for the head and grabbed. And I thought Dwyane Wade's was an absolute flagrant. He had no intentions ... he was just trying to run through Paul. I told Paul, 'You still don't react."'
The game was aired by ABC, and analysts Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy both thought Pierce's ejection was not warranted.
"You can't toss him out," Jackson said on air.
"I don't think that he could have said anything that would warrant being thrown out of this game," Van Gundy said. "What does it matter? No one hears it. He's talking to Dwyane Wade. You're ruining the end of this game over something that doesn't need to be addressed like this."
The first technical foul was because Pierce made contact with Jones during a dead-ball period. Pierce's head made light contact with Jones during that skirmish, but Crawford said it stopped short of being called a head-butt, which may have merited further sanctioning from the NBA.
"He approached Jones and got right in his face," Crawford said.
In the Celtics' locker room, the sense was that their captain was wronged.
"If anything, you let it go," forward Kevin Garnett said. "The play was called, the foul, whatever was called, it wasn't something that escalated or felt like that needed to be blown out of proportion."
Reserve forward Glen Davis was more succinct.
Boston's captain was ejected with seven minutes left in Game 1 of the Celtics' Eastern Conference semifinal series on Sunday afternoon after picking up two technical fouls on separate plays in the fourth quarter.
The ejection came after a play where he set a screen for Ray Allen against Miami's Dwyane Wade, who was running at him with a good amount of speed. Both players appeared to take offense to the force of the collision, Wade stepping toward Pierce after the play as the Boston forward was saying something to him.
"It's what we call a verbal taunt," crew chief Dan Crawford said. "He directed profanity towards Wade. And in the rulebook, that is a verbal taunt. And it just so happened to be Pierce's second technical foul."
Miami won the game, 99-90. Game 2 is Tuesday. Pierce did not speak with reporters after the game.
Pierce's first technical came after he was fouled by James Jones on the right wing, a play where Jones made some contact with Pierce's head.
He took exception with that, as did Celtics coach Doc Rivers afterward.
"James Jones was a clear flagrant," Rivers said. "He went right for the head and grabbed. And I thought Dwyane Wade's was an absolute flagrant. He had no intentions ... he was just trying to run through Paul. I told Paul, 'You still don't react."'
The game was aired by ABC, and analysts Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy both thought Pierce's ejection was not warranted.
"You can't toss him out," Jackson said on air.
"I don't think that he could have said anything that would warrant being thrown out of this game," Van Gundy said. "What does it matter? No one hears it. He's talking to Dwyane Wade. You're ruining the end of this game over something that doesn't need to be addressed like this."
The first technical foul was because Pierce made contact with Jones during a dead-ball period. Pierce's head made light contact with Jones during that skirmish, but Crawford said it stopped short of being called a head-butt, which may have merited further sanctioning from the NBA.
"He approached Jones and got right in his face," Crawford said.
In the Celtics' locker room, the sense was that their captain was wronged.
"If anything, you let it go," forward Kevin Garnett said. "The play was called, the foul, whatever was called, it wasn't something that escalated or felt like that needed to be blown out of proportion."
Reserve forward Glen Davis was more succinct.
"A dirty shot," Davis said, adding, "We're awake. Most definitely we smell what's going on, the coffee is brewing. We'll be back Game 2 and it'll be a great game."
Pierce finished with 19 points and seven rebounds on 6 of 14 shooting. It was the second playoff ejection of his career, the other coming against the Indiana Pacers in 2005.
Stefanovic takes home Gold Logie
Channel Nine presenter Karl Stefanovic has won the coveted Gold Logie at the television industry's night of nights in Melbourne after a late voting surge, edging out favourite Rebecca Gibney.
The Today host seemed to be just as surprised by the win as everyone else, saying he did not expect to beat out his competition to claim victory in the most popular personality on Australian television category."I never ever, ever, in my life as a journo thought that I would be standing up here, in front of this crowd on this stage, with this thing in my hand, especially with the class of nominees," he said.
He said the big news events this year - including the Queensland floods and the Christchurch and Japan earthquakes - may partly explain his win.
"I'm incredibly excited and blown away by the support out there," he told said.
"For whatever the reason I am over the moon that this has happened."
He said he thought his career might be over following a post-Logies presenting disaster two years ago, when he appeared drunk on air the next morning, but says he plans to have a few celebratory drinks after last night's win.
"I'm going to try and take it a little bit easier and just enjoy it rather than get poleaxed like last time," he said.
"I thought that it was possibly career-ending. I'm more surprised than anyone else that I'm still here and more than that I'm here getting this award. It's amazing."
Stefanovic, who only returned to Australia yesterday morning after covering the royal wedding in London, also won the Silver Logie for most popular presenter at the ceremony at Melbourne's Crown Casino.
Stefanovic finished his acceptance speech for the Silver with a special word of thanks to his wife Cass for letting him go on weird and wonderful excursions around the world.
"She's a great influence on my life so thank you so much. She's also got the best arse I've ever seen," he said.
He beat out the favourite for the Gold, Packed to the Rafters star Gibney, who won it in 2009.
Also nominated for the top award this year were Gibney's on-screen daughter Jessica Marais, ABC personality Adam Hills, Ten presenter Chrissie Swan and actress Asher Keddie, of Ten's Offspring.
Stefanovic paid tribute to his fellow nominees, telling Hills: "We all know mate if you weren't on the ABC you would have won five of these things."
ABC quiz show Spicks and Specks, hosted by Hills, picked up the award for most outstanding light entertainment program.
Stefanovic also thanked his Nine colleague Laurie Oakes, who was inducted into the Logie Awards Hall of Fame, saying he was the reason he was a journalist.
If the awards are anything to go by Australia's television landscape seems to be changing, with wins more evenly spread across the networks and new programs and their stars taking home Logies.But it was also the first year that the Logies have been solely voted online which may have affected the outcome.
Nine won the most Logies at this year's ceremony, taking out three outstanding and four popular awards.
Seven, Ten and the ABC each won five Logies, but they were distributed differently amongst the popular and outstanding categories.
The silver Logie for most popular actor went to Hugh Sheridan from Seven's popular Packed to the Rafters, which is now in its fourth season.
The silver Logie for most popular actress went to Keddie for her work in Ten's Offspring after just its first series.
Richard Roxburgh took home the most outstanding Logie for his portrayal of an eccentric lawyer in Rake and Claire van der Boom won the most outstanding actress award for the miniseries Sisters of War.
ABC reporter Sarah Ferguson and the Four Corners program won the award for most outstanding public affairs report for their investigation Smugglers Paradise.
Ten proved to be popular with viewers, winning five of the 12 publicly voted awards but none of the peer voted outstanding awards.The network scored wins in the popular categories with new shows The Circle and Offspring, as well as established programs MasterChef and Bondi Rescue.
In contrast the ABC won five of the ten peer voted outstanding awards but none of the viewer voted popularity awards.
Seven has scooped the pool in previous years with popular shows Packed to the Rafters and Home and Away but this time the network won just five Logies, two outstanding and three popular.
Packed to the Rafters won the most popular drama series for the third year running, as well as Sheridan's win, but after only two Logies from 15 nominations, Australia's love affair with the Seven drama may be starting to wane.
Transformers 3 on July 1st
Transformers 3
Paramount and DreamWorks have officially announced that they will be making Transformers 3, and releasing the film on Friday, July 1st 2011. No word on if Michael Bay or stars Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox are set to return, but I would be really surprised if it didn’t happen.
Summer 2011 is really beginning to shape up as
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