Economy

US data lackluster; Canada posts surprise trade surplus; Japan business sentiment rises; Australian labour market weaker; UST 10yr at 4.12%; gold jumps, silver at another new record; oil falls; AU$1 = 66.7 USc

US Fed cuts as expected; US payroll costs inflate; Canada holds its rate; China CPI stays low; IMF upgrades China growth; UST 10yr at 4.16%; gold firm, silver at another new record; oil holds; AU$1 = 66.4 USc

US data generally positive; Japan ready for rate rise, machine tool orders strong; Taiwan exports stars again; German exports rise; UST 10yr at 4.17%; gold holds, silver at new record; oil falls on glut fears; AU$1 = 66.5 USc

US inflation expectations stable. US forced to subsidise farmers. Japan GDP shrinks. China exports zoom, surplus tops U$1 tln. German industrial production rises

US credit card debt rises, sentiment less bad; Canadian jobs rise on part-time work; China reserves inch up; India cuts; Japan spending falls; FAO food prices dip; UST 10yr at 4.14%; gold slips, oil holds; AU$1 = 66.4 USc

US data stops weakening; the IMF cheers Canada's resilience; India cuts its policy rate; global food prices dip; wheat and copper in focus; UST 10yr at 4.14%; gold firmish but silver jumps again, oil firms; AU$1 = 66.4 USc

US labour pressures remain; EU retail sales rise; Australian household spending up; supply chain pressures ease; but freight rates rise sharply this week; UST 10yr at 4.10%; gold eases lightly as oil firms slightly; AU$1 = 66.2 USc

US data mixed but hurt by shrinking payrolls; China services expansion slows; China local govt debt in focus; Australia grows less than expected; UST 10yr at 4.07%; gold firms as does oil; AU$1 = 66 USc;

The latest GDP data shows private investment growth driven by machinery and equipment for data centers. Essential household spending rose as discretionary spending dropped. But the household saving ratio rose

OECD watches global growth ease back; US signals mixed; Japanese sentiment rises; Australia building permits shrink; UST 10yr at 4.10%; gold eases and oil soft; AU$1 = 65.6 USc;

US factories falter as do Canadian factories; India industrial production stops expanding; China PMI retreat confirmed; UST 10yr at 4.09%; gold firm, silver surges again and oil soft; AU$1 = 65.5 USc

Eyes on retail sales; India GDP surges; China PMIs dip with factory sector contraction longest on record; Japan, Korea & Canada improve; UST 10yr at 4.02%; gold firm, silver surges and oil holds; AU$1 = 65.5 USc

Canada, Japan, South Korea and India all post generally upbeat data while eyes turn to US holiday retail impulse; air travel and air cargo rise; UST 10yr at 4.02%; gold rises, silver surges and oil firmish; AU$1 = 65.5 USc

Global eyes on end-of-year retail demand; Canadian earnings rise; China profits fall; APRA worried about housing loan risks; Aussie investment jumps; UST 10yr at 4.00%; gold dips and oil firms; AU$1 = 65.3 USc

Pre-holiday data releases flood US markets, a mixed set; Singapore factories very busy; Hong Kong tragedy; Australian inflation rises unexpectedly; UST 10yr at 4.00%; gold up and oil firms; AU$1 = 65.2 USc;

Inflation up unexpectedly, complicating the RBA's policy track. This is the highest inflation reading since the monthly data series began in April 2025

US data droops as their consumer mood turns negative; Korean mood brightens; Taiwan follows suit; UST 10yr at 4.00%; gold up and oil lower; AU$1 = 64.5 USc

Eyes on US holiday shopping impulse; US factory data soft; ditto Canada; Singapore inflation firmer; Beijing considers big changes; UST 10yr at 4.04%; gold up and oil stays down; AU$1 = 64.6 USc;

China FDI weak; India activity strong; Japanese exports rise; Italy gets ratings upgrade; US activity positive but inflation high; China not buying US soybeans; UST 10yr at 4.06%; gold down and oil stays low; AU$1 = 56.1 USc

Global PMIs mostly positive; US sentiment at record low; Japanese exports strong; China foreign investment stays weak; equities drop for week; bitcoin falls hard again; UST 10yr at 4.07%; gold up and oil down; AU$1 = 64.6 USc

No, AI probably won't take your (whole) job, but the future workforce will look different. Fortunately the labour force is already shifting in mostly the right direction. Policy and social changes are nonetheless needed, says Westpac's Luci Ellis

Restarted US data gives mixed results; Canada PPI rises; Taiwan export order growth high; China hooked on subsidies; German PPI low; IMF warns Australia; UST 10yr at 4.11%; gold and oil soft; AU$1 = 64.5 USc

In its latest review of the financial system, APRA is seeing some signs of a pick-up in higher risk lending, particularly high debt-to-income borrowing by investors

The IMF likes where Australia is at, but sees serious risks ahead. It wants to see "comprehensive tax reform" and "greater spending efficiency" to hold on to fiscal sustainability