November 5, 2023

This week confirms that world gold production is on track to reach record levels in 2023, driven by soaring prices (above $2,000 per ounce three times this year) and the lifting of Covid restrictions that had hindered output in 2020, 2021, and 2022. According to figures from the World Gold Council (WGC), mined gold production

Not much new emerged from Friday’s annual meeting of Qantas shareholders in Melbourne, as the high levels of shareholder and customer dissatisfaction with the airline have been evident for several years, particularly this year. Much of this discontent is linked to various issues centered around the former CEO, Alan Joyce, especially his final year’s remuneration,

Once again, a quarterly report from Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has left more questions than answers for markets to ponder. Has another quarter of concerted share sales been an accurate reflection of what he thinks of the current value of equities, given his continued investment in bonds and cash? Or have he and his Berkshire

Data out last week has confirmed that US oil production continues to edge higher to a new all time high in August, despite falling rig numbers. Crude and condensate production in the month of August reached 13.053 million barrels a day, up from 12.959 million barrels a day in July. Output was up nearly 9%

Australian interest rates are set to dominate the financial markets, overshadowing offshore events. The Wall Street-driven rebound this week could prompt unfavorable comparisons if the Reserve Bank raises rates on Tuesday. In addition to bank profits from Westpac (today) and the National Australia Bank (Thursday), discussions will focus on the implications of these figures and

Search parties returned on Friday night from another unsuccessful day’s search for the market bears who had spent all of October pushing bond yields higher, driving down shares and commodities, and leaving everyone else fearful of a still-too-high US dollar. In just two and a bit days of trading – from 2 pm New York

Stocks rose Friday after a soft jobs report drove bond yields lower, and the major averages registered their best week in 2023. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 222.24 points, or 0.66 per cent to 34,061.32. The S&P 500 climbed 0.94 per cent to 4,358.34 and notched its first five-day advance since June. The Nasdaq