Australia's Political Outlook:

What are the political risks to doing business in Australia over the next 5 years?

BMI's Australia Country Risk Ratings evaluate the short and medium-term threats posed by government instability, adverse economic policy-making, deterioration in the business environment and external shocks.

Australia Political Outlook Contents

• SWOT Analysis for the Australian Market
  Political Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats facing Australia.
• Political Stability and Risk Assessment for Australia
  BMI's Risk Ratings assess explicit short and long-term risks to political stability; latest ratings, rankings and trends for Australia's risk are compared with Asia regional and global averages.
• Current Administration and Policy-making in Australia
  BMI profiles key policy-makers and power-brokers in the Australian government, assessing threats to the continuity of Australian economic policy, and likely changes to the business operating environment through end-2012.
• Australian Foreign Policy
  BMI examines key trends and shifts in Australia's foreign relations and alignments with Asia neighbours, the United States and Europe, focusing on external influences.

Key Benefits

1. Benchmark Australia's risk profile against its neighbours, the global and regional average, allowing easy comparison of risks between key business markets.
2. Identify, evaluate and anticipate political and security risks to the business environment in Australia, and to your company's current operations and future plans.
3. Gain valuable insights into the Australian government and policy-making, through BMI's specialist team of analysts and economists, and their exclusive network of private and public sector sources.

Australia's Economic Outlook:

How will Australian economic policy-making and performance impact corporate profitability over 2008-12?

BMI provides fully independent 5-year forecasts for Australia through end-2012 for more than 35 macroeconomic variables. We evaluate Australian growth, and also forecast the impact of economic management, including central bank policy, on profitability.

Australia Economic Outlook Contents

The Australia Business Forecast Report features explicit BMI economic forecasts for Australia, with supporting commentary and analysis, for end-2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 set against Australian government views. Underpinning our Australia forecasts are key assumptions for the global economy through end-2012, covering growth, inflation, employment, trade and investment, interest and exchange rates in the US, Japan and the Euro-zone.

Coverage of Key Economic Issues in Australia

• Economic Activity in Australia
  Real GDP growth; industrial growth; employment growth; inflation and consumer prices; consumption (indicative wages, retail sales, consumer confidence)
• Fiscal Policy in Australia
  Current macroeconomic strategy and implementation policies; government finance (revenue, expenditure, budget balance); tax reforms
• Monetary Policy in Australia
  Interest rate trends (bank lending and deposit rates); inflation (retail price inflation, consumer price inflation); exchange rate policy in Australia; Australian currency controls; influence of foreign direct investment inflows; exchange rates and foreign exchange reserves
• Balance of Payments in Australia
  Merchandise trade (exports, imports, trade balance); current account balance
• Foreign Direct Investment in Australia
  Foreign direct investment approvals and inflows; the foreign investment climate
• Australian External Debt
  Debt profile (short- and long-term debt; public and private sector exposure)

Key Benefits

1. Rely upon BMI's 100% independent Forecast Scenarios for Australia and underlying assumptions - we take no advertising and are privately-owned.
2. Exploit the benefits of BMI's comprehensive and reliable macroeconomic Australia database, sourced and fully maintained by BMI from an extensive network of private sector, government and multilateral contacts.
3. Gain key insights into the current and future direction of Australian government economic policy

Australia's Business Environment:

How internationally competitive is Australia's regulatory environment, and what changes can be expected?

BMI assesses levels of transparency, flexibility of labour market, tax burden, development of the banking sector and credit availability, infrastructure and IT, foreign investment regime and trade liberalisation in Australia.

Australia Business Environment Contents

• Australia's Business Environment Risk Rating with SWOT Analysis
  Short and long-term business environment risk ratings for Australia, benchmarked against ratings for Asia and neighbouring countries.
• Country Competitiveness for Australia
  Competitiveness of Australia's business operating environment in supporting corporate growth and profitability over the 5-year forecast horizon, compared with regional neighbours.

Coverage of Key Business Environment Issues in Australia's Domestic Environment

Transparency, cronyism and corruption; labour market flexibility; corporate tax burden; interest rate levels; access of private sector to lines of credit; sophistication of banking sector and stock market; levels of business confidence; infrastructure and IT

• Foreign Direct Investment in Australia
  Analysis of foreign investment regime, foreign ownership laws; attractiveness of business environment to foreign investors; review of major foreign direct investments over the last 24 months, and of strategic sectors attracting most interest
• Foreign Trade with Australia
  Analysis of trading environment, government trade policy, liberalisation measures, tariffs and membership of trade areas

Australia's Key Industry Sectors

Which industry sectors in Australia will grow fastest, and where are the major investment opportunities in the Australian market?

BMI targets investment opportunities in Australia's high growth industries, including automotives, food and drink, infrastructure, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, telecommunications and IT.

Coverage of Australia's Key Industry Sectors - Australian Market Overview

Size, value and structure of industry; impact of liberalisation and privatisation on sector performance and prospects; friendliness of business environment

• Latest Developments in Australia
  Review of latest projects, deals, privatisations, mergers and acquisitions, and implications for sector performance; company rankings for national and multinational companies in Australia; main industry players by local sales, employee size, market share and main brands, products and services
• 5-year Industry Forecast for Australia
  Historic dataset (2003-2007) and BMI forecasts through end-2012, covering headline industry data broken out by sub sector

Key Benefits

1. Target strategic sector-by-sector opportunities in Australia's high growth industries, attracting public expenditure and foreign investment; identify key players and competitors driving growth, investment and business opportunities.
2. Benefit from competitive intelligence on top national and multinational companies operating in Australia's major industry sectors, including analysis of recent trends in sales and market share, company strategies, product launches and latest deals.

Who buys the Asia Business Forecast Reports?

The Australia Business Forecast Report is an essential tool for CEOs, Chairmen, Finance Directors/CFOs, Managing Directors, Marketing/Sales Directors with commercial interests in Australia.

Our Business Forecast Reports are relied upon by corporates, banks, government departments and multinational organisations around the world.

Business Monitor International's Business Forecast Report subscribers include:

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