In the dark on trade deal

Peter Martin - Economics Correspondent Craig Emerson and his Malaysian counterpart will sign a free trade agreement this morning.

Hockey issues warning on debt ceiling lift

Peter Martin The Coalition has raised the prospect of a US-style move to block government attempts to lift the debt ceiling, raising the prospect of turmoil on financial markets.

Treasury bullish on economy

Peter Martin Treasury boss Martin Parkinson says the economy will survive one of the tightest budgets in years in part because its economic effects are milder than is widely believed.

RBA sparks hopes of more rate cuts

Peter Martin THE Reserve Bank has given rise to hopes of more rate cuts by saying that inflation should stay low and that the non-mining economy will need to create more jobs to contain unemployment.

RBA hints at further rate cuts

Peter Martin THE Reserve Bank has fuelled hope of further rate cuts, saying inflation should stay low.

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Treasury figures more guarded than a year ago

Peter Martin This time last year Treasury forecast 500,000 new jobs in two years. Nine months into the first of those financial years, the economy has delivered just 29,000 and Treasury is more circumspect.

How Swan got his surplus

Peter Martin SIX months ago in the mid-year budget review, Wayne Swan was told to expect a paper-thin surplus in 2012-13 of just $1.5 billion.

Swan's skinny surplus: a how-to guide

Peter Martin After shuffling tens of billions from the defence department, corporations liable for tax and the recipients of foreign aid and funnelling it into payments for families produces a projected surplus...

Australians buck tough times with a spot of shopping

Peter Martin Wayne Swan will take into tonight's budget a rare piece of good economic news.

Tax refund on losses to aid business

Peter Martin THE words "tax refund" will have a more concrete meaning from mid-2013 when, for the first time, Australian companies will not only be able to claim back tax they have overpaid in any financial year...

Plea to spare single parents from budget cuts

Peter Martin The Australian Council of Social Service has made a last-minute plea to the Prime Minister.

Budget tax win over losses

Peter Martin Australian companies will be able to claw back the cost of tax they have overpaid in any financial year as part of the Gillard government's $700 million promise to help kick-start businesses that...

Refund did little to help education

Peter Martin The soon-to-be-buried Education Tax Refund was an appalling policy on just about every level.

NAB keeps a bit on the side, giving rivals excuse to avoid full rate cut

Peter Martin, Chris Zappone NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK has cleared the way for Australia's big four banks to withhold a large chunk of the Reserve Bank's 0.50 percentage point rate cut delivered on Tuesday.

Banks to pocket part of rate cut

Peter Martin Home buyers and businesses are likely to get just two-thirds of the 0.50 percentage point cut in interest rates delivered by the RBA.

More equality in some taxing years

Peter Martin and Tim Colebatch Australia a more equal society than it was, and the GFC can take the credit.

Former RBA boss calls for 50-point rate cut

Peter Martin THE former Reserve Bank governor Bernie Fraser has challenged his successors to cut interest rates 50 points today rather than the widely expected 25 points.

Analyst tips $10bn budget shortfall as tax take falls

Peter Martin Far from delivering surplus of $1.5 billion, Swan is on track to deliver a deficit of $8 billion.

Rate hike to recover costs: bank

Peter Martin ANZ hits back at claims it is gouging , saying its monthly adjustments are to recover costs and not to widen margins.