RMIT economist Sinclair Davidson, Chairman of the Institute of Factors and Discounters, Hooman Zahrai - Talking Business 2012 - Ep07

Summary: Interview with RMIT economist Sinclair Davidson. Interview with Hooman Zahrai, chairman of the Institute of Factors and Discounters. Leon and Garry discuss issues including: An NAB survey showing business confidence slumping in February even as conditions improved. Consumer sentiment falling Consumers are increasingly reluctant to take on personal debt, with new figures showing the average credit card limit recorded its slowest growth in 17 years over the past 12 months, according to The Reserve Bank of Australia. But then, personal finance commitments jumping in January, while commercial lending fell, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Motor car sales flat coming in February New home buyers and investors giving up on the housing market amid a soft economy and a diminishing chance of further interest rate cuts. Loan approvals for investment housing in January fell 7.1 per cent, seasonally adjusted, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures. Housing starts falling further than expected in the December quarter, according to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Myer reporting a 17.5 per cent fall in profit. Trade Minister Craig Emerson outlining plans to harness capital from emerging economic giants such as China and India to spark a revolution in Australian food production. The chief executive officer of Telstra Corporation Ltd subsidiary Sensis, Bruce Akhurst, stepping down from his role at the company. The federal government’s $2.4 billion big business tax cut funded by the mining tax faces defeat in Parliament after the Greens said they would only support cuts for small business. The federal government's release of draft tax laws that would cut the 30 per cent company tax rate for big companies have stoked calls from business groups for more robust reforms of the country's tax laws. Billionaire James Packer donating $250,000 to maverick Queensland MP Bob Katter's Australian Party ahead of the Queensland election in two weeks. Pizza maker Domino Pizza Enterprises Ltd announcing that technology led pizza demand has driven the chain to hire 1000 extra staff across its Australian stores. Domino's said it needs extra pizza makers, delivery drivers and part-time managers at its 482 Australian stores. David Gonski, one of Australia's most high-profile businessmen, will be the next chairman of the $73 billion Future Fund. Billionaire mining magnate Clive Palmer flagging plans to establish a Guardian newspaper-type “blind trust’’ to invest in Australian media to ensure diversity and stop independent newspapers going bust. Palmer still intends to mount a High Court challenge against the federal government's carbon tax. If Australia's carbon prices remain higher than Europe's carbon prices, the Australian economy stands to take a $30 billion hit to growth by 2018, according to new economic modelling. The bitter dispute between Australia's richest person, Gina Rinehart, and her children expected to spark debate about the ownership of the Hope Downs iron ore mine