Weekly Wrap

Australian unemployment rose to an 18-month high of 3.9%, according to the latest labor force report from the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Thursday. However, focusing solely on that figure, as some reports did, was highly misleading.

Another $US3 trillion day for Apple as the rate cut frenzy on Wall Street pushed the iPhone maker’s shares close to a record $200.

Slowly but surely, the pace of activity across the Australian economy is softening.

Last Monday, despite reaching all-time highs in Asian markets, gold prices finished the week down more than 3.3%, closing at approximately $2,004 an ounce for the Comex front month and $2,020 for the continuous contract close.

The electric vehicle (EV) industry, once riding high on optimism and sky-high valuations, has hit a roadblock as investors and car manufacturers reevaluate their strategies amidst a slowdown in growth. Factors ranging from rising interest rates to evolving EV technology and consumer preferences are being cited as reasons behind the shift in momentum.

A weak trade report for November, especially concerning imports, confirms the ongoing challenges in the country's economy almost a year after hopes of a post-Covid economic boost.

Increased government spending on energy and childcare rebates, investment, and defense spending kept the Australian economy afloat in the three months to September, even though economic growth slowed to less than walking pace, growing at just 0.2%.

Sigma Healthcare is expected to announce a major transaction today, which will result in a backdoor listing by the privately-owned pharmacy giant, Chemist Warehouse, on the Australian stock exchange.

Apple's market value surged past $3 trillion for the first time in four months on Tuesday as Apple shares gained 2% to reach $193.42. Despite reducing its shares through buybacks, the tech giant has seen its stock price rise by over 52% this year, showcasing its resilience.

Moody’s Investors Service has downgraded its outlook on China’s sovereign credit rating to negative.

One forecast that drew attention this week came from Moody’s, which issued a cautionary outlook for the health of the global banking sector in the upcoming year.

The precious metal's prices plummeted from record highs during Monday's global session in Asia, driven by a stronger dollar and increased US treasury yields as the day progressed.

China's official activity survey for November indicates a continued slowdown in its economy. Manufacturing contracted for a second consecutive month, while non-manufacturing activity reached a new yearly low.

It seems most market participants are now expecting and pricing an interest rate environment that is ‘"higher for longer". If this is the case, what will it mean for real estate?

This report evaluates recent lithium M&A activities and provides a closer examination of lithium development projects. The primary focus is on new projects that RFC Ambrian believes have the potential to become targets for future industry consolidation, either through outright takeovers or third-party entities taking substantial interests in these projects.

Inflationary pressures eased slightly in October, as many economists had forecast, following a poor result in September and data for the September quarter. However, the improvement is not a cause for great excitement and will not lead the Reserve Bank to change its stance on the risks of "sticky" inflation, heightened expectations, and potential interest rate hikes.

Investors are finding compelling opportunities in an unexpected corner: small-cap value shares.

Let’s start with a quick recap of the most recent reporting season.

Click here to visit the Quay Global Investors website.
https://www.quaygi.com/

Clean energy stocks are mired in their most severe downturn in years, triggering a multi-billion-dollar erosion of the sector's value and casting a shadow over America's environmental objectives.

The vast desert expanse of Western Australia, once renowned for its gold, nickel, and iron ore deposits, has now become the epicenter of a fierce competition among miners vying for control of lithium, a crucial raw material in the global shift towards greener energy.

Wall Street offered Australian investors little guidance as they resumed trading today, leaving them with nothing but fond wishes and hopes for retailers.

Global oil prices steadied in early Asian trading on Thursday after slumping earlier in the session due to the surprise news that an OPEC+ meeting had been postponed by four days to the following week.

In a recent development, Citi analysts have upgraded their short-term iron ore price forecast to a staggering US$140 per tonne, citing China's anticipated fiscal stimulus measures.

Moneyspot, a lending entity specialising in short-term financial solutions, offers fast online personal cash loans to address immediate financial requirements.