August 2023

China’s economy faces ongoing trials marked by persistent weak economic data, which is expected to persist as August draws to a close. On Thursday, August 31, the results of the monthly surveys for the manufacturing and service sectors are due to be released. These final figures are unlikely to present an optimistic picture, aligning with

Following Friday’s significant surge, it appears that Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell’s ability to influence market sentiments has diminished. His Jackson Hole speech last Friday bore striking resemblance to his address at the same event a year ago when he cautioned about the forthcoming ‘pain’ in tackling inflation—a warning that prompted market declines. In contrast,

Stocks rallied Friday as traders cheered comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell at the annual central bank conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, that point to stronger-than-expected economic growth. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 247.48 points, or 0.7 per cent at 34,346.90, after being up more than 300 points at session highs. The

The annual results for the fiscal year 2022-23 shed light on can and bottle maker Orora’s strategic move to dive deeper into the US markets, echoing the path taken by its former parent company, Amcor. Similar to Amcor’s transformative acquisition of US competitor Bemis for $9.2 billion, Orora is charting a similar course for its

As the June 30 reporting season draws to a close, roughly 15% of ASX 200 companies are yet to release their reports, primarily comprising smaller enterprises. Among the imminent releases are reports from notable entities including Fortescue Metals, Mineral Resources, IGO, Brambles, and Harvey Norman. Brambles and IGO’s reports are expected to be positive, while

After two weeks of increasingly nervous trading, Wall Street erupted in cheers and applause following Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell’s long-awaited speech at Jackson Hole. His words appeared to soothe market worries, solidifying gains after a period of uncertainty. Despite acknowledging progress, Powell made it clear that substantial changes are unlikely in the ongoing battle

As the echoes of the June 30 reporting seasons reverberate worldwide (except for China, where it reaches its peak this week), attention shifts to a flurry of data releases marking the start of the new month. Australia is poised for a crucial week, featuring the June quarter national accounts and GDP announcements for the 2022-23

Once again, August has proven to be a month of losses for oil rig activity in the US, with a recent decline adding to the trend. The weekly report released last Friday by energy-services firm Baker Hughes revealed a decrease of eight oil rigs operating in the US. The tally for oil rigs plummeted to