The Albanese government’s 5% deposit scheme for first home buyers, which came into effect on 1 October, has pushed the last of Australia’s affordable housing beyond reach. Lower-priced properties, or those covered by the extended Home Guarantee Scheme price caps, have generally seen better growth since September of last year, according to new Cotality study.
The iron ore jaws are opening wide. Put your hand in if you dare. The widest in three years, in fact. Scuttlebutt is excited! Iron ore futures rallied on Wednesday to their highest in multiple months, boosted by hopes of improving demand in top consumer China following Beijing’s pledge of easing monetary policy this year.
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During Bill Clinton’s 1992 campaign for the U.S. presidency, campaign strategist James Carville coined a now-legendary catchphrase. Those four simple words were: “It’s the economy, stupid”. While originally intended as a campaign motto to maintain on-message, it became a de facto campaign slogan that remains a point of focus to this day. But in the
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The US Justice Department has quietly scaled back its indictment of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, retreating from a central Trump-era claim that he led a drug cartel.
The original accusation, included in a 2020 grand jury indictment, portrayed the Cartel de los Soles as an organized criminal group allegedly led by Maduro and engaged in large-scale cocaine trafficking.
Yesterday’s monthly inflation number was softer than expected, easing fears of a February rate hike. Summing up, headline CPI was lower than Westpac had anticipated, coming in at 0.0% for the month as opposed to its projection of 0.4%. This puts Westpac’s current December quarter nearcast of 0.6%qtr for the Headline CPI and 0.8%qtr for
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As things currently stand, the Albanese government possesses the largest majority achieved by any postwar federal Labor government at the ballot box, holding 94 out of the lower house’s 150 seats. Meanwhile, unlike other governments of the recent past that were heavily reliant on a broad range of Senate crossbenchers, Labor needs only the support
DXY has shown signs of life since El Trumpo crashed the world order. AUD has nonetheless been riding the Asian assets party. Which ended yesterday. Gold is overbought again. Oil is doomed. The metals blowoff collapsed under its own weight. Big miners are parabolic. EM in free air. None of it is supported by spreads.
Wall Street stumbled amid a mixed bag of economic releases as traders pivot towards Friday’s NFP print. US 10 year Treasury yields remain elevated at their recent monthly highs but a little too quiet, while the USD is gaining strength against the majors particularly Euro and Canadian Loonie while the Australian dollar has slipped to
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In the face of Trump and his triumphant ethnonationalism, the regulatory parties – whether it be on artificial intelligence, environmental policy, financial capitalism or international relations – are remaining silent for now, notes Le Monde columnist Gilles Paris.
'The Democratic Party is waiting for Trump's departure, praying his successors fail to revive Trumpism'
Ukraine must create conditions that encourage its young men to remain in the country rather than flee to Western Europe, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said.
Calls for a royal commission after the Bondi shootings reflect public anger and distrust, but decades of experience suggest such inquiries rarely deliver lasting reform or accountability.
The Russian Transport Ministry has confirmed that the oil tanker ‘Marinera’ has been captured by the US military.
Earlier on Wednesday, the US European Command announced having taken possession of the ship, previously named the ‘Bella 1’, for alleged “violation of US sanctions.”
If the Palestine Action hunger strikers die, the government will be responsible.
By George Monbiot, published in the Guardian 7th January 2026
Australian property has benefited from numerous support mechanisms and government interventions to bolster its fortunes in the years since the pandemic began. $188 billion in funding from the RBA to the banks at just 0.1% interest, facilitating the rise of 3-year fixed-rate mortgages at under 2%. This led to 40% of all Australian mortgages being
