In the third quarter, the US economy experienced stronger growth than expected, with an annual increase of 4.9%, marking the best performance in nearly two years. This surprising development was attributed to robust consumer spending despite higher interest rates, persistent inflation pressures, and various domestic and global challenges.

Pan-Asian bank Standard Chartered has revealed significant financial damage due to exposure to Chinese banks and the slumping property sector. On Thursday, the London-based Asian operating bank witnessed a 17% collapse in its shares on the London Stock Exchange, prompting a trading limit to be imposed. This drop followed the announcement of a nearly $US1 billion (almost $A1.6 billion) loss stemming from its exposure to China's real estate and banking sectors in the September quarter.

In the third quarter, US economic growth exceeded expectations, with a 4.9% annual rise, marking the strongest performance in nearly two years.

A recently resolved strike at one of Newmont's major mines has led to a reduction in its 2023 output guidance, impacting earnings, just as it prepares to merge with Newcrest Mining on November 6.

Now, it's down to Apple next Thursday after Amazon’s solid third-quarter numbers failed to set its share price on fire, leaving the Nasdaq poised for another frustrating session on Friday to end a down week.

Nasdaq slid into correction territory, leaving Wall Street in uncertainty. Meta Platforms may have initially reported stronger-than-expected quarterly results on Wednesday, but by the end of the extended trading session, a 4% gain had dwindled to just 2.6%. Despite its robust quarterly performance catching the attention of traders and analysts, the after-hours bounce couldn't compensate for the 4% decline during regular trading hours.

On Wednesday, gold and oil prices surged as reports emerged of Israel's preparations for a potential invasion of Gaza.

The Federal Government has added an additional $2 billion in subsidies, creating a $4 billion fund for Australian miners and exporters of critical renewable minerals, particularly battery materials. This fund will support both large and small miners, as well as those developing specialized devices for renewable technologies.

For the fourth time since becoming Reserve Bank Governor, Michell Bullock has emphasised the central bank's policy primacy in controlling prices by raising interest rates if inflation proves challenging to reduce.

Tech giants Microsoft and Alphabet (Google) have delivered strong quarterly results, potentially easing investor concerns about the megatechs' ability to support the broader Wall Street market.

In a bold move that underscores their commitment to the future of fossil fuels, the two largest American oil companies, Chevron and ExxonMobil, have embarked on a race to secure petroleum reserves, defying predictions that global oil demand will peak by 2030. These multibillion-dollar transactions have set the stage for a seismic shift in the energy industry.