The Conference Board LEI for Australia increased in April for a fourth consecutive month, with money supply and stock prices making the largest positive contributions. Between October 2012 and April 2013, the leading economic index increased 0.7 percent (about a 1.5 percent annual rate), up from a decline of 0.4 percent (about a -0.8 percent annual rate) during the previous six months. Additionally, the strengths among the leading indicators have remained more widespread than the weaknesses in recent months.
Here is a copy of the components:
In general, we see a positive contribution from most components over the last 4-5 months with two exceptions: building approvals and the sales to inventory ratio. All other points are doing well. Let's now turn to the CEIs:
Like the LEIs, the CEIs are now printing mostly positive numbers.
Here's the assessment of the economy from the latest meeting minutes of the central bank:
Exports had grown further in the March quarter. Resources exports, particularly of bulk commodities, had grown strongly over the past year, while services exports had resumed growth more recently.
Available information indicated that business investment had declined in the March quarter. According to the latest ABS capital expenditure survey, the decline had been in both the mining and non-mining sectors. The fall in capital imports since the beginning of the year was consistent with a decline in investment in the first quarter, although recent data showed that capital imports had bounced back somewhat in April.
According to the ABS survey of firms' capital expenditure plans, non-mining investment was expected to show moderate growth over the next year or so. While the survey also continued to imply further growth in mining investment, in the past actual annual capital expenditure by mining companies had often differed by a wide margin from their forecasts as reflected in the ABS survey. Based on public statements by mining companies and information from the Bank's liaison, it seemed likely that mining investment was near its peak but would probably remain at a high level for the next year or so. However, members observed that there was considerable uncertainty about mining investment beyond that period. In particular, changes in production and exports of energy commodities in other countries were making it more difficult to assess the potential for new projects in the gas sector in Australia. Overall, conditions in the business sector remained somewhat subdued, with survey measures for all industries at, or below, average levels.
Household spending appeared to have picked up early in 2013, after having slowed late in 2012 and having been supported by higher asset prices. In the March quarter, growth of retail sales volumes was strong across most categories, amid a decline in retail prices. Liaison suggested that the pace of retail spending might have eased somewhat more recently, while measures of consumer confidence fell back to around average levels in May.
Members observed that the effects of low interest rates had been evident in a range of housing market indicators. Building approvals for both higher-density and detached dwellings had increased over recent months. The Bank's liaison contacts were generally becoming more positive about the outlook for dwelling investment. Also, loan approvals had grown more strongly in recent months, including for new housing, and auction clearance rates were well above average in Sydney and had picked up to be a bit above average in Melbourne. While measures of dwelling prices had been relatively flat over recent months, they were still higher than the previous year.
Labour market conditions remained somewhat subdued. The monthly employment data continued to be volatile, with a large increase in employment in April following a sizeable decrease in March. Looking through this volatility, employment growth had not been as fast as growth of the labour force, which had led to the unemployment rate drifting higher over the past year, to 5½ per cent. Job advertisements had stabilised earlier in the year, but had edged down in recent months. Overall, leading indicators of employment pointed to continued moderate employment growth.
The wage price index had increased by 0.7 per cent in the March quarter, a little less than had been expected, and year-ended wage growth was below the average of the past decade. The easing in wage growth had been broad based across industries and states, with notable declines in areas related to the mining sector. While the decline in the pace of wage growth in recent quarters had been most pronounced in the private sector, growth in public sector wages continued to slow in the March quarter and remained relatively subdued, consistent with ongoing fiscal restraint.
What we see in general is a business sector split between natural resource and non-natural resource sectors. The former is in flux as a result of the Chinese re-balancing, while the latter is OK. Consumers are still spending thanks to the wealth effect of higher asset prices. The Central Bank also has room to lower rates further if needed.
Let's turn to a few Australian ETFs, starting with the equity markets.
Prices have dropped almost 20%, from their high of 28.15 to yesterday's close of 22.60/ Prices are now below the 200 day EMA; they've brought the shorter EMAs with them. Also note the slight increase in volume and negative MACD and CMF. Prices are right at the 38.2% Fib reading from the June-May rally.
Like the equity markets, the Aussie dollar has also dropped sharply, falling about 12.66%. Like the equity market, the technicals are very negative. However, prices have made a 100% retracement from their May move last year, indicating this might be the end of the sell-off.
