Economics

China's new home prices fell at the fastest pace in more than nine years in August, official data showed over the weekend, as central government measures continue to fall short of providing stability for the collapsing property sector.

Investors have significantly raised their expectations for a half-percentage-point interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve next week, as the central bank prepares to reduce borrowing costs for the first time in over four years.

The impending sale of Anglo American's Australian coal portfolio is poised to be one of the most significant transactions of the year, offering a crucial barometer for industry sentiment on the future of steel production and its supporting commodities. The sale is expected to provide valuable insights into the sector's outlook, particularly for metallurgical (met) coal, a key component of steel production.

Oil prices have dropped sharply from their year-long trading range as investors grow increasingly concerned about weakening demand from the world’s largest economies. Brent crude, which had been fluctuating between $73 and $92 since last October, fell to $68.68 on Tuesday—the lowest since December 2021. The decline follows a report showing that China’s oil imports are still trailing behind last year’s levels, amplifying worries over global demand.

There are things that the struggling casino group, Star Entertainment (ASX:SGR), can’t afford financially (having lost any moral claims), and one of those is losing its Sydney casino licence or facing a hefty fine.

US equity indexes closed higher on Friday as markets looked ahead to the Federal Reserve's latest monetary policy decision, due this week. The Dow and the Nasdaq both rose 0.7%, reaching 41,393.8 and 17,684, respectively, while the S&P 500 gained 0.5%, closing at 5,626.

Iron ore prices are expected to come under more pressure today after a surprise slump in China's crude steel output in August.

The ASX is expected to see a modest rise this morning, as local investors are aware that no one will pay much attention to what happens here until the Fed announces its decision on US rates at 4 am Thursday morning, Sydney time.

There are more signs of the Chinese economy’s growing stagnation, with another round of sluggish data for August.

Oil’s Hurricane Francine price blip won’t last past Monday, despite what energy market hopefuls might wish for.

After the European Central Bank opted for a 0.25% rate cut last week, this week brings four major central bank interest rate decisions from the Fed, the Bank of England, the Bank of Japan, and the People's Bank of China.

Gold prices soared to new all-time highs on Friday as the US dollar weakened in the lead-up to this week’s anticipated rate cuts.

Believe it or not but gold futures are within $US15 of topping the $US2,600 mark as prices lurched upwards on Thursday.

Thursday, we learned about impairment losses from Brickworks and its 43% shareholder, Washington H Soul Pattinson, related to their brick-making and masonry businesses in Sydney and the U.S.

Australian investors will no longer be able to invest in high-yielding, bank-issued hybrids after the key financial regulator, APRA, ruled that they posed a risk to the stability of the Australian financial system and economy.

The Federal Reserve has significantly scaled back its proposed increase in capital requirements for the largest U.S. banks following pushback from the banking industry and lawmakers.

Global oil prices slumped to multi-year lows on Tuesday in the wake of a cut by OPEC in its forecasts for this year and next, coupled with weak data from China.

Ouch! Hours after launching its new iPhone 16 and watch, along with other products, Apple has been hit by a shock court ruling in Europe, forcing it to pay €13 billion in taxes.

August saw yet another series of mixed messages from China regarding its appetite for key commodities such as oil, coal, iron ore, and copper.

Monday, September 9, was the date Anglo American had indicated it would begin receiving bids for its five central Queensland coking coal mines.

Has sales and earnings growth stalled for Solomon Lew’s Premier Investments?

Inflation continues to tiptoe its way back into the Chinese economy, but for that, the Chinese government can thank another surge in food prices, especially the volatile price of pork.

The annual UK results of discount supermarket giant Aldi have undermined analysts' and others' obsession with market share.

This week presents a heady mix of developments, including interest rates in Europe, inflation in China and the US, and share markets shifting focus from economic factors to market momentum issues.

China was expected to release its monthly trade data on Saturday, September 7. It typically releases this data on the 7th day of the following month, except at the start of the year and sometimes after the end of a quarter.

The OPEC+ group’s latest attempt to boost global oil prices collapsed within a day of its announcement on Thursday. On Friday, US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude hit its lowest level since June 2023, marking its worst week in nearly a year. The postponement of OPEC+ production increases confirmed a dimmer outlook for crude than many had anticipated.

Gold bugs will be beside themselves as China has stayed out of the very expensive gold market for the fourth month in a row.