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Trending stories and market-moving news from the ASX small-cap sector
Mortgage trap in later life: housing debt keeps Australians working longer
Australians risk retirement as property wealth masks crippling debt: half of 55–64 homeowners owe housing debt; average >$230k, pension gap widening.
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Weekly wrap: A modest rise to end the week
The Australian share market enjoyed a modest rise to end the week on Friday after a Wall Street rally caused by optimism of more interest rate cuts in the future. The ASX 200 index closed up 0.5%, or 40 points, to close on 8628.2 points after eight of the 11 sectors rose.
Diverging Rates Pushing Up Aussie Dollar
At last the long-anticipated diverging interest rate outlook between Australia and the US is a reality and we can begin to see the effects it is already having.
A Helping Hand in Getting on the Property Ladder
The latest government housing market program that you may not have heard about is known as "help to buy" and it works by the government directly taking a stake of up to 40% in the property you buy.
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Weekly Wrap: ASX Climbs on Santa Rally as Miners and Gold Stocks Lead Gains
The Santa rally arrived in earnest on the Australian stock exchange as the share market rose the most in almost three weeks on Friday. A continuing rise in gold stocks and strong gains in miners happened as investors jumped aboard the US interest cuts train, hoping that it was creating a rising market tide that would lift all boats.
More Government Makes Houses Less Affordable
A report from property data firm Cotality shows the extent of the damage over a period in which governments at all levels made rash and so far largely unfulfilled promises about dramatically increasing housing supply.
The Key to Retiring with Confidence
How much do you really need to retire? It is a question that puzzles many, and yet the answer reminds as elusive as ever.
Weekly Wrap: Market Higher For A Second Week
Australian shares were up slightly for a second week on Friday with investors hoping for an interest rate cut in the US, even as the chances of a local cut have evaporated. With the US Fed and the local Reserve Bank both meeting this week to decide on official interest rates, there are still strong hopes the US will cut rate even though still strong Australian inflation have greatly reduced the chances of any cut here.
Copper Price Surge on Global Supply Squeeze and Tariff Speculation a Tailwind for Australian Miners
Copper has been on a strong upward trajectory in recent weeks, climbing more than 30% on the London Metal Exchange this year as traders and analysts warn that global inventories could soon hit critically low levels.
Why There Is a Ceasefire in the Bank Wars—For Now
The ceasefire between the banks in the war for deposits is still holding at this stage but it may not be long before we see it break out in earnest, after the revelation that Macquarie Bank now has more than $200 billion in retail and business deposits.
Self-Managed Super Woes
While there are many lessons to be learned from the collapse of the Shield and First Guardian funds that swallowed more than $1 billion of Australian’s superannuation money, key among them is the use of SMSFs.
Weekly Wrap: Australia and the US diverge over interest rates
The past week has been quite a significant one as it became clear that the US and Australia were diverging in a significant way. Here in Australia the ongoing upward trend in inflation made it clear that there is now little hope of an interest rate cut.