Is It Time for the RBA to Cut Rates?

With the population expanding faster than output, the country has effectively slipped back into a per capita recession. This is not the first time economic output has failed to keep pace with population growth. Nine out of the last 11 quarters have seen the same trend. Compared to three years…

Australia’s Housing Surge Falls Short of Targets

According to the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), residential construction grew by 7 per cent in the year to March. This included $24.275 billion spent on new home builds in the March quarter alone. However, the scale of growth remains inadequate to reach the goal of…

Compliance Deadline Approaches for Accounting Firms Under Australia’s AML/CTF Tranche 2 Reforms

Author: FeeSynergy Regulatory Background Australia’s Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) Act (introduced in 2006) is expanding under Tranche 2 Reforms, which passed on 29th November 2024. These amendments extend compliance obligations to professional service providers such as accountants, lawyers, real estate agents, and trust service providers. Firms must enrol with…

ASX Set for Modest Rise as Wall Street Stalls

Futures suggest a 22-point, or 0.3 per cent, gain for the ASX at the open. This offers a modest rebound after the local market dipped 0.5 per cent on Thursday. Wall Street provided little clear direction, ending a volatile session with mixed results. The S&P 500 inched down less than…

Employment Surges Amid Stable Unemployment

The figures, released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, reflect robust labour demand, especially among women. These figures suggest the economy is holding up better than expected. April’s employment growth far exceeded market expectations of just 22,500 new jobs. This surge was driven predominantly by women entering or re-entering the…

Australian Share Market Up Amid Global Trade Hopes

This gain came despite lingering concerns over the global economic outlook. Investors were cautiously optimistic following signals from former US President Donald Trump about a forthcoming agreement with Britain. The news helped lift the market after a slow start to the day. The benchmark ASX200 rose by 13.4 points, closing…

Australia’s Inflation Eases and Wages Rise

More notably, the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) preferred measure, trimmed mean inflation, decreased to 2.9 per cent. This marks its first return within the RBA’s 2–3 per cent target range since late 2021. This development has bolstered expectations for a potential interest rate cut in the near future. Economists…

ASX Boosted After Positive Comments from Trump

Investors took comfort in what appeared to be a softening of Trump’s stance on China. His rhetoric around the US Federal Reserve sparked a wave of optimism that rippled through international markets. The S&P/ASX 200 rose by 47.7 points to close at 7968.2 on Thursday. This marks another positive session…

Labour Market Rebounds Amid Global Uncertainty

Although the national unemployment rate increased to 4.1 per cent, it still beat forecasts of a sharper rise to 4.2 per cent. This reflects the labour market’s resilience despite global economic headwinds and lingering domestic challenges. The latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics highlights a modest correction following…

ASX Receives Boost as Trump Halts Tariffs

Investors welcomed a surge of optimism, leading to a $120 billion jump in market value across Australian equities. The ASX 200 index soared by 4.5 per cent, finishing at 7,710 points. The broader All Ordinaries index leapt 4.7 per cent to close at 7,914 points. Despite the impressive performance, the…