Economy on the road to recovery
The economy's pace of contraction forecast in April is not as severe as in previous months, a survey says.
First-home juggernaut hits new record
Gabrielle Costa
First-home buyers have ignored the impact of the global financial crisis, snatching up new homes at a record rate in May and beating the previous record set almost eight years ago.
For home loan rates, the only way is up
Danny John
THE fall in fixed-rate mortgages, particularly longer-term offers, has bottomed out and prices are beginning to rise again in a further sign of the pressure being applied to bank financing costs.
Consumer confidence surges on GDP news
Sentiment gains the most in more than two decades as Australians take heart from better-than-expected growth.
First-home buyers rush in
First-home buyers now make up a bigger share of the mortgage market than ever before, lured in by government help and low interest rates.
Business confidence boosted by budget
Peter Martin Labor's May budget appears to have sparked an extraordinary wave of renewed business confidence that has neutralised months of negative sentiment.
Geithner says risks to global recovery remain
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said Tuesday that the global recession is easing but serious risks remain to a prolonged recovery.
Business confidence surges
Chris Zappone
Business confidence surged in May, pushed almost into positive territory by the global sharemarket rally and an infrastructure spending boost.
US recession will be over soon: Krugman
The US economy probably will emerge from the recession by September, Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman said.
Australia dodges recession
Chris Zappone
Australia has dodged a recession, with data showing the economy expanded in the first three months of the year.
