ASX down 0.06%: Westpac Melbourne Institute Consumer Sentiment Index increased by 6.2%

The Westpac Melbourne Institute Consumer Sentiment Index increased by 6.2% to reach 86 in February, marking its highest level since June 2022, signaling a shift towards optimism among Australian consumers amidst moderating inflation, evolving interest rate expectations, and anticipated income tax reductions later in the year, as indicated by Matthew Hassan, a senior economist at Westpac.

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ASX down 0.3%: CSL shares fall

Despite a record rally in US markets on Friday, the sharemarket experienced a decline, with the S&P/ASX 200 slipping by 0.27 per cent at 7,623.90 at 11:30am. This decline is primarily attributed to healthcare giant CSL, dropping 5.2 per cent due to abandoning plans for a drug seeking regulatory approval following weak trial results.

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Google unveils Gemini: Rebranded AI assistant with new app and subscription options

Google has announced a significant rebranding of its AI chatbot and assistant, formerly known as Bard, unveiling it as Gemini. The rebrand comes alongside the launch of a new app and subscription options for users. Gemini, a key competitor to OpenAI’s ChatGPT, shares its name with the suite of AI models powering the chatbot.

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