11 March 2020

IFM Investors Quarterly Economic Update

The sense of cautious optimism that greeted 2020 has already evaporated following the emergence of a new virus. China – the epicentre of the outbreak – is likely to suffer a material economic shock that will reverberate globally, given its strict containment measures. Other countries have also been forced to implement economically disruptive policies, further compounding the issue.

Considering the nature of this shock, Australia is particularly exposed as China is far and away our largest trading partner for both goods and services. Resources exposure, via iron ore and coal, is well understood but more recently, it is the services export boom that has been important for Australian growth. Chinese nationals account for around one in four students enrolled in the education sector and one in six tourists. It is via this services exports channel that COVID-19 will impact most heavily the Australian economy.

It is uncontroversial to expect a material global economic slowdown, but there is much uncertainty as to its severity and duration and the policy response. The Australian economy is likely to record a negative quarter of growth in Q1 2020 and two negative quarters, a technical recession, can’t be ruled out.

You can read a summary or download the full Economic Update (March 2020) by clicking the link below:

Economic Update (March 2020)

Duncan Welsh
Director
Duncan.Welsh
+61 3 8672 5317

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