17h agoThu 4 Dec 2025 at 5:45amMarket snapshotASX 200: +3% at 8,618 pointsAustralian dollar: +0.2% at 66.12 US centsS&P 500: +0.3% to 6,850 pointsNasdaq: +0.2% to 23,454 pointsFTSE: -0.1% to 9,692 pointsEuroStoxx: +0.1% to 576 pointsSpot gold: -0.5% at $US4,185\/ounceBrent crude: +0.5% to $US63.01\/barrelIron ore: +0.4% to $US107.77\/tonneBitcoin: -0.4% at $US93,070<\/p>\n
Prices current as at 4:45pm AEDT.<\/p>\n
Live updates on the major ASX indices:<\/p>\n
17h agoThu 4 Dec 2025 at 6:03am<\/p>\n
That’s a wrap!<\/p>\n
Alright, alright, that’s all from us today.<\/p>\n
It’s been a pleasure.<\/p>\n
The brilliant Emilia Terzon will be with you tomorrow morning bright and early.<\/p>\n
The biggest questions on global traders’ minds at present relate to the US Federal Reserve’s independence next year, and how high Japan’s 10-year bond rate needs to climb before the “carry trade” is broken.<\/p>\n
And when, oh when, will the Australian inflation dragon be slain?<\/p>\n
Enjoy your evening.<\/p>\n
Loading<\/p>\n
17h agoThu 4 Dec 2025 at 5:53am<\/p>\n
Watching Japanese bond market<\/p>\n
The business team here is watching the Japanese bond market closely.<\/p>\n
It’s the global investment community’s funding source.<\/p>\n
If yields continue to rise, the expectation is that offshore money \u2014 billions of dollars’ worth \u2014 will head home back to Japan.<\/p>\n
This would see the yen skyrocket and Wall Street turn sharply down.<\/p>\n
The Japan 10-Year bond yield was trading up almost 4 basis points to 1.93% at 4:50pm AEDT.<\/p>\n
Traders have told the ABC the “big round number” of 2% is the level to watch for the so-called “risk-free” 10-year rate.<\/p>\n
17h agoThu 4 Dec 2025 at 5:41am<\/p>\n
ASX closes modestly higher<\/p>\n
The S&P\/ASX 200 has closed higher, gaining\u00a023\u00a0points or\u00a00.3%\u00a0to\u00a08,618.<\/p>\n
The top performing stocks were\u00a0Capstone Copper, up 8%\u00a0and\u00a0HMC Capital, up\u00a05%.<\/p>\n
Over the last five days, the index is virtually unchanged, but it has gained\u00a05.6%\u00a0over the last year to date.<\/p>\n
It’s also down roughly 5.2% from its October record high.<\/p>\n
18h agoThu 4 Dec 2025 at 5:15am<\/p>\n
Australian bond sell-off<\/p>\n
Today has seen an Aussie bond sell-off in anticipation of higher interest rates.<\/p>\n
The Australian 10-year Treasury Bond is now trading at 4.69%.<\/p>\n
The Australian 3-year Treasury Bond is at 4.05%.<\/p>\n
The cash rate sits at 3.6%.<\/p>\n
A September 2026 RBA interest rate hike has now been fully priced in.<\/p>\n
18h agoThu 4 Dec 2025 at 5:03am<\/p>\n
More detail on ABS Household Spending data<\/p>\n
The annual pace of spending growth picked up to 5.6% in October from 5.1% in September, ABS figures show.<\/p>\n
It was the strongest annual pace of spending since September 2023.<\/p>\n
Household spending on discretionary goods and services rose by 1.6% in the month of October.<\/p>\n
Spending on non-discretionary goods and services lifted 0.8% month-on-month. Spending on goods climbed a solid 1.7% while spending on services rose 0.8%.<\/p>\n
By category, spending rose most in the month of October for clothing and footwear (up 3.5%), followed by furnishings and household equipment (up 3.0%), hotels, cafes and restaurants (up 2.2%), alcoholic beverages and tobacco (up 1.8%), miscellaneous goods and services (up 1.6%), recreation and culture (up 1.0%), food (up 0.9%), health (up 0.4%) and transport (up 0.3%).<\/p>\n
18h agoThu 4 Dec 2025 at 4:41amAustralian dollar approaching 1-year high<\/p>\n
The Australian dollar is ascending ever so carefully up the currency exchange mountain.<\/p>\n
At 3:40pm AEDT it’s buying 66.12 US cents.<\/p>\n
“The Australian dollar (AUD) firmed on Thursday as Australian household spending surged in October,” the CBA noted.<\/p>\n
The local currency reached 66.84 US cents on September 16.<\/p>\n
19h agoThu 4 Dec 2025 at 4:32am<\/p>\n
Optus statement on Samsung upgrades<\/p>\n
Optus has issued a statement to the ABC regarding the number of Samsung devices requiring upgrades.<\/p>\n
As of yesterday, the number of Optus customers on Samsung devices needing software upgrades is 33,209 (including Optus Consumer, Optus Business, Enterprise, Wholesale and Amaysim customers)<\/p>\n
These customers have all been sent SMS and email communications to explain that their device has been identified as unsafe and that a software upgrade is required to continue to connect to Emergency Services when the Optus and Telstra networks are unavailable.<\/p>\n
A further 17,000 Samsung devices that cannot be fixed with a software update have been blocked, as of November 24. <\/p>\n
Customers who receive an SMS or email from Optus should take immediate action by following the instructions provided, visiting an Optus store, or calling the Optus Customer Centre for assistance.<\/p>\n
19h agoThu 4 Dec 2025 at 4:21am<\/p>\n
Fewer women having children, women who do have fewer<\/p>\n
If you haven’t been following the discussion of Australia’s declining fertility rate, and whether and how the trend could be arrested, Daniel Ziffer has this useful primer on Peter Costello’s comments and e61’s research on the issue.<\/p>\n
19h agoThu 4 Dec 2025 at 4:03amMarket expects September RBA rate hike but it could be sooner<\/p>\n
Let’s talk about bonds.<\/p>\n
The Australia 3 Year Bond is trading at 4.034% at 15:00 AEDT.<\/p>\n
It’s known as an interest rate-sensitive bond because it tracks market perceptions of future interest rate moves.<\/p>\n
NAB’s chief economist Sally Auld told the ABC the market’s fully pricing in (or expecting) an RBA interest rate hike in September, 2026.<\/p>\n
But more interest rate hikes could also eventuate.<\/p>\n
19h agoThu 4 Dec 2025 at 3:40am<\/p>\n
Bond market screaming for RBA interest rate hike<\/p>\n
Australian bond yields have risen to the highest level in a year on market speculation the Aussie central bank will switch back to raising interest rates to bring down stubbornly high prices.<\/p>\n
“Rate-sensitive 3-year Australian government bond yields rose by 10 basis points to 4.038% on Thursday, the highest since mid-January,” the CBA noted.<\/p>\n
“The 10-year yield lifted 7 basis points to 4.68%, the highest since November 2024.<\/p>\n
“It was the fifth straight session where 10-year yields rose, the longest stretch since May 15.”<\/p>\n
20h agoThu 4 Dec 2025 at 3:28am<\/p>\n
Your reactions to Peter Costello’s call to have more kids<\/p>\n
I shared a bedroom with one of my two brothers. I was happy I had a roof over my head, food on the table, schools shoes and a loving family. We set up a quiet space in the living room to do our homework and to make sure we did it! I didn\u2019t know any different and it all worked.<\/p>\n
That said, given living standards have risen, one would think we could do better when it feels like we are going backwards. I wonder how the ABS measures that?<\/p>\n
– Peter<\/p>\n
Here’s some other reader feedback on the former treasurer’s comments on The Business last night:<\/p>\n
Kim<\/p>\n
As I lie here on the sofa, 28 weeks pregnant feeling horrendous and housebound because I can\u2019t get the care and medicine I need for another 8 weeks thanks to hospital shortages- I read about an old white man telling women (because it is the women here folks) to have more babies- you give it a go mate and get back to me.<\/p>\n
Leo<\/p>\n
Yes have more babies …… if if you can’t afford them ….. not to mention the dystopian world they will grow up in …. and the higher standard of living (LOL). You might even be able to pass your mortgage debt to them. The dual income for survival mode needs to change. That won’t happen in our current system because it is controlled by capitalists.<\/p>\n
20h agoThu 4 Dec 2025 at 3:20am<\/p>\n
Help to buy kicks off tomorrow<\/p>\n
The Help to Buy initiative, first proposed in 2022, will see low-income households co-buy with the federal government with the government contributing up to 30% of the cost of an existing home and up to 40% on new builds.<\/p>\n
Here’s some commentary on the policy from interest rate comparison website, Canstar:<\/p>\n
While the government recently lifted the lid on its alternative offering, the Home Guarantee Scheme,\u00a0Help to Buy remains more targeted, with a limit of 10,000 places per year and strict income caps in place for the scheme of $100,000 for single buyers and up to $160,000 for joint applicants and single parents, which are re-assessed every five years.<\/p>\n
People using the Help to Buy scheme will have to stump up a deposit of at least 2% of the entire property\u2019s value but will not have to pay lenders\u2019 mortgage insurance.<\/p>\n
The scheme starts for most states and territories from tomorrow, however, Western Australia and Tasmania are yet to pass the legislation to participate in the scheme.<\/p>\n
20h agoThu 4 Dec 2025 at 3:19am<\/p>\n
Regional living<\/p>\n
A note for Michael if he\u2019s still onboard. Your comment this morning about 2 kids and 1 on the way. I obviously don\u2019t know how your business and personal commitments stack up , but if it\u2019s possible to do your job somewhat remotely I suggest you might look at Albury\/Wodonga where I moved to with my job 45 years ago. It\u2019s brilliant. $605000 will buy you a 2 storey , 4 bedroom \/ 3 bathroom house ! Multiple daily flights to Sydney and Melbourne . Your kids will love it . Lakes , rivers , mountains , snow , all within short distances. Top-notch sports facilities , good schools . The list goes on. As icing on the cake for you , great golf courses with membership fees that will make you tear up compared to what I assume you pay now !<\/p>\n
– Phillip<\/p>\n
Hi Phillip.<\/p>\n
Don’t worry, I have thought about what the growing equity in our Sydney house (mainly from rising prices, not paying off much of the loan!) would buy outside Sydney.<\/p>\n
I’ve got a brother in Wagga, another in Grafton and a sister outside Melbourne, so am familiar with some of the benefits of regional living.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, I have to be in the office at least a few days a week for my current role, and it’s also hard to build and maintain business\/finance contacts at the top end of town unless you’re in Sydney or Melbourne \u2014 it’d be a bit like being a federal political reporter who is never in Canberra.<\/p>\n
One also has to consider the quality of public and commercial services you can access in a big city versus even a large regional centre.<\/p>\n
Keep an eye on The Economy, Stupid podcast feed, where you’ll be able to listen to me and economist Rory Robertson discussing some of these issues with host Peter Martin in a summer special we recorded recently.<\/p>\n
20h agoThu 4 Dec 2025 at 3:10am<\/p>\n
ASX issues Dragon Mountain Gold with ‘speeding ticket’<\/p>\n
The ASX has issued Dragon Mountain Gold Limited with a “Price Query”.<\/p>\n
It’s when the price of a stock moves a lot without an associated market disclosure from the company.<\/p>\n
“ASX refers to the following:<\/p>\n
A. The change in price of DMG’s securities from a low of 0.007 to an intraday high of $0.013 today.<\/p>\n
B. The significant increase in the volume of DMG’s securities traded today.”<\/p>\n
20h agoThu 4 Dec 2025 at 2:55am<\/p>\n
Fewer homes set for auction this weekend<\/p>\n
There are currently 3,158 homes scheduled to go under the hammer across the combined capitals this week, down -7.8% on last week (3,427), though 20.7% higher than this week last year (2,617).<\/p>\n
“As we approach the end of the year, we expect to see auction numbers decline, with approximately 2,800 homes scheduled for auction across the combined capitals next week,”\u00a0Cotality research analyst Caitlin Fono said.<\/p>\n
20h agoThu 4 Dec 2025 at 2:40am<\/p>\n
Trade surplus widens<\/p>\n
Australia’s goods trade surplus continued to widen in October, with the balance up $678 million, as exports rose 3.4% m\/m and imports rose 2.0% m\/m, according to ABS data.<\/p>\n
The month was again heavily influenced by non-monetary gold, underscoring continued volatility in the headline trade figures.<\/p>\n
Here’s some Oxford Economics Australia commentary:<\/p>\n
Beyond gold, growth in exports was still solid, driven by non-rural goods, while imports were relatively subdued. <\/p>\n
Softer global demand and easing commodity prices are likely to keep downward pressure on export values over the next year.<\/p>\n
\u00a0On the import side, data centre investment may drive a further lift in capital goods.<\/p>\n
Together, these flows will keep downward pressure on the trade balance. Month-to-month outcomes are still prone to volatility from non-monetary gold movements.<\/p>\n
21h agoThu 4 Dec 2025 at 2:34am<\/p>\n
Constantly monitoring how public money is spent<\/p>\n
Could I make two comments. Firstly the talk about the payments in breach of the constitution. The public servants disbursing these funds would have multiple checklists. Clearly the checklists weren\u2019t followed . If they\u2019re not followed for this kind of money heaven knows what happens with smaller amounts.Secondly is the ABS saying including illicit tobacco will improve growth figures ? If so maybe including the amounts for traffic fines , etc. which also reduce the amount people have to spend legally , would also help.<\/p>\n
– Phillip <\/p>\n
Thanks Phillip.<\/p>\n
And we can agree it’s a good thing that Treasury officials, and officials from the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO), are being questioned in Senate estimates about payments that have been disbursed by the Department of the Treasury to the states and territories.<\/p>\n
We need to constantly monitor these things.<\/p>\n
![\"David](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/lcimg-2df95ae4-9506-4940-bbd7-9ade9e2e308c.jpeg\")
ASX 200: +3% at 8,618 pointsAustralian dollar: +0.2% at 66.12 US centsS&P 500: +0.3% to 6,850 pointsNasdaq: +0.2% to 23,454 pointsFTSE: -0.1% to 9,692 pointsEuroStoxx: +0.1% to 576 pointsSpot gold: -0.5% at $US4,185\/ounceBrent crude: +0.5% to $US63.01\/barrelIron ore: +0.4% to $US107.77\/tonneBitcoin: -0.4% at $US93,070<\/p>\n![\"Michael](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/lcimg-4b155f50-d1aa-4dad-99fe-239e1f9416e7.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Gareth](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/lcimg-f36b83a2-46d0-4bf4-8c37-dc028268654e.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"Decline](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/lcimg-a74f8e1e-e1d0-456e-ab5f-b1eedd2703a5.jpeg\")
Decline in AUM (Bestbrokers.com)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"17h agoThu 4 Dec 2025 at 5:45amMarket snapshotASX 200: +3% at 8,618 pointsAustralian dollar: +0.2% at 66.12 US…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":111672,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[4231,4232,4236,138,7011,4234,219,4238,4237,220,10992,111,139,4235,69,7420,1820,643,4233],"class_list":["post-168551","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-economy","tag-asx","tag-australian-dollar","tag-bitcoin","tag-business","tag-dollar","tag-dow-jones","tag-economy","tag-live-blog","tag-live-update","tag-markets","tag-nasdaq","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nyse","tag-nz","tag-sp","tag-share-market","tag-stocks","tag-wall-street"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168551","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=168551"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168551\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/111672"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=168551"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=168551"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=168551"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}