Leading financial bookmaker Centrebet has today released the country's first market on the next national unemployment figure, with a 5.6 to 5.7 per cent jobless rate as the opening $2.85 favourite!

The historic market is expected to absorb and fascinate punters after the overwhelming year-long success of the monthly Reserve Bank Interest Rate announcements and the national economy market where money was invested on whether Australia would fall into recession or not!

Centrebet media chief Neil Evans says while the market is obviously somewhat socially sensitive, it was a highly newsworthy and topical forum for the nation's punters, as well as providing some sort of barometer on where the next crucial unemployment figure would settle! "We have given this a lot of thought, and tried to frame a market on where we think the trend will be, and we'll soon be proven right or wrong!

"Like everyone, we were bouyed the national jobless figure took a turn for the better last time (down to 5.4 %) and we certainly hope that continues, and that measures put in place through the Federal Budget have the desired effect," Evans said. "But the indicator is the figure will rise next time around.

"Certainly, it gives punters well away from the usual betting mediums of sport and racing a chance to play 'expert' in a field that's becoming more and more popular! Earlier this month an inner-western Sydney punter won $30,000.00 after wagering heavily on Interest Rates not moving in the May announcement!"

Centrebet's second favourite at $3.75 is a slightly bigger unemployment jump to 5.8 - 5.9 %, while the current trend (5.4 - 5.5) is on the third line of betting at $4.00. A slight drop in the figure (5.2 - 5.3 %) is priced at $6.00 ahead of a sharp rise (6.0 - 6.1 %) at $8.50! Evans said the two extremities of the market - 6.6 % or above and 4.9 % or below - are both equal outsiders at $34.00.

Meanwhile, Centrebet has again opened official Interest Rates staying on hold in June as a $1.80 favourite ahead of a 25 basis points cut at $2.25! "It appears to be one of the two. You can get big odds for the rest, and at this stage the feeling is the RBA will again opt out of any change, preferring to allow more time for the economy to rebound."

NATIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURE
$2.85 5.6 - 5.7 %
$3.75  5.8 - 5.9 %
$4.00 5.4 - 5.5 %
$6.00 5.2 - 5.3 %
$8.50 6.0 - 6.1 %
$11.00 6.2 - 6.3 %
$17.00 5.0 - 5.1 %
$21.00   6.4 - 6.5 %
$34.00 6.6 % or above
$34.00 4.9 % or below

 

NEXT RBA INTEREST RATE ANNOUNCEMENT (Sch Jun 2)
$1.80 OFFICIAL RATE STAYS THE SAME
$2.25  OFFICIAL RATE CUT BY 0.01 - 0.25 %
$5.75 OFFICIAL RATE CUT BY 0.26 - 0.50 %
$13.00 OFFICIAL RATE CUT BY 0.51 - 0.75 %
$26.00 OFFICIAL RATE CUT BY 0.76 - 1.0 %
$26.00 ANY OFFICIAL INCREASE
$67.00 OFFICIAL RATE CUT BY MORE THAN 1.0 %

Last Updated: 20th May 2009
Tags: Specials Financials