Finance

Finance · 8 hrs ago

ASX’s Capital‑Racing: $2.7B of New Money Leaves Brokers Boiling

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

This fortnight, Australian equities saw a torrent of $2.7 billion in capital raises, led by NEXTDC’s $1.1 billion UBS‑managed convertible note, leaving market participants scrambling for the next hot take.

Finance · 9 hrs ago

Micro‑X’s Chair‑Buy Sparks Triple‑Play: Market Participants Scan for Signals

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

After an on‑market purchase by its chairman, Micro‑X Limited’s shares surged threefold, sparking a frenzy of speculation among market participants about the future of portable scanning tech.

Finance · 12 hrs ago

Rate Hike Ruffles Canberra’s Wallets and Their Pets

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

In the capital, a looming rate hike is tightening the purse strings of businesses and consumers alike, and the pet market is feeling the squeeze – some families are letting their furry friends go.

Finance · 15 hrs ago

China‑US AI Accord Promises $42 b in Tariff Cuts, Market Participants Hold Their Breath

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

In a grand diplomatic gesture, Beijing and Washington have agreed to a sweeping AI dialogue and slash $42 billion in tariffs, targeting a laundry list of goods that will inevitably make market participants question the…

Finance · 17 hrs ago

Australia Exposes OpenAI Hack on UN Stage, AI Shares Suffer Sudden Dip

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

Australian tech giants face scrutiny after a high‑profile AI breach was revealed at the UN. Market participants scramble to gauge the ripple effect on the city’s booming AI and property sectors.

Finance · 1 day ago

Petrol to Pass $2.70 Per Litre as Bonds Go Downhill, Market Participants Stare

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

A leading economist warned that unleaded petrol could top $2.70 a litre, while the Australian share market slipped into negative territory amid a global bond sell‑off – market participants are scrambling to adjust bu…

Finance · 19 September 2026

RBA claims interest rates finally found their way home, albeit after a brief detour through the outback

Mabel Crowe, Sydney desk

The Reserve Bank’s top brass announced that the nation’s borrowing costs have settled into what they called a ‘more sensible level’, prompting locals to wonder whether the rates have finally stopped wandering lik…

Finance · 14 hrs ago

Commerce Commission’s Cartel Crackdown Leaves Taxpayers Smiling, Banks Still Waiting for Cash Rate

Moss Harlow, Auckland desk

The Commerce Commission has exposed a $360m a year price‑tag on illegal bid‑rigging in public procurement, prompting a sweep of colluding suppliers and a dry reminder that even banks can’t escape the cost of misbeh…

Finance · 19 hrs ago

Home Loan Rates Slip Below 5% – Borrowers Celebrate While Banks Play Catch‑Up

Moss Harlow, Auckland desk

New Zealand banks have nudged home‑loan rates below the 5% mark, sparking a brief wave of relief for borrowers, but many lenders keep their two‑year terms in limbo. Amid the rate shuffle, the cash rate hangs in the b…