Finance

Finance · 6 October 2026

India’s GDP Surges, Shares Dive: Five Reasons the Market’s Feeling a Monsoon

Iris Quay, London desk

India’s economy is sprinting ahead while its equity markets take a nosedive. Five tongue‑in‑cheek explanations show why investors are trading their confidence for a cup of tea.

Finance · 6 October 2026

Frogs Leap Ahead of Pigs, Sending French Bonds Higher

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

Bond investors have swapped the usual PIIGs for a slippery amphibian, nudging French government yields upward as markets watch the unexpected new target.

Finance · 6 October 2026

ASX Opens Higher as Bond Yields Rise, Market Participants Cheer in Mildly Overcooked Optimism

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

The ASX opened in the green as bond yields continued to rise, matching gains across all Wall Street exchanges, while traders kept an eye on lingering inflation concerns.

Finance · 6 October 2026

ASX Hopes to Ride Wall Street’s Record‑Chasing Rollercoaster While Bidding for a Spot on the Bump

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

With U.S. shares flirting with new highs after a flurry of buy‑out deals, Australian market participants are clutching their mugs, hoping the ASX will follow the trend rather than sit on the sidelines.

Finance · 6 October 2026

Fed’s Rate Riddle: AI Keeps Thriving While Households Scream

Helen Pell, Washington desk

High borrowing costs are tightening households and businesses, but the AI sector remains buoyant, inflating prices and leaving the Fed puzzled.

Finance · 6 October 2026

Pakneja’s Exit: Oil Receipts Vanish as Iran’s Economy Sizzles

Iris Quay, London desk

Iran’s oil minister Mohsen Pakneja resigned amid allegations that a trust owed the state millions in oil export receipts, as oil revenues plunge and inflation accelerates, deepening the country’s economic crisis.

Finance · 5 October 2026

Britain Mulls Chinese Car Tariffs, City Traders Wonder If Their Euro‑Made Image Will Survive

Iris Quay, London desk

The UK is weighing tariffs on Chinese‑built cars to match EU duties, a move aimed at bolstering its case for inclusion in forthcoming EU legislation protecting European manufacturers.

Finance · 5 October 2026

Britain Mulls Tariffs on Chinese EVs as Fuel Prices Drive Buyers Back to Electric

Iris Quay, London desk

The UK government is reportedly preparing tariffs on Chinese‑made electric cars to protect the domestic market as rising fuel prices spur a resurgence in EV demand.

Finance · 5 October 2026

ASB Forecasts Two Rate Hikes Before Christmas, New Zealanders Brace for Santa‑Style Inflation

Noor Hale, World desk

ASB’s latest quarterly outlook predicts the Reserve Bank will raise the official cash rate twice before Christmas, signalling that a robust recovery is unlikely until next year.