by Rakesh NAYAK | Nov 3, 2026 | Blogs, Market Insights
Australia’s inflation story turned hotter in September. The monthly CPI rose 0.8%, lifting the annual pace from 4.0% to 4.3% and surprising both market expectations of 0.7% and Westpac’s own estimate of 0.6%. Fuel and holiday travel did most of the damage, but the... 
by Rakesh NAYAK | Sep 29, 2026 | Blogs, Market Insights
Australia’s August labour force data revealed a paradox: strong employment growth alongside rising unemployment. The labour market is being stretched by a surge in labour supply, with near-record participation bringing more Australians into the workforce than... 
by Rakesh NAYAK | Sep 22, 2026 | Blogs, Market Insights
Australia’s long-running dividend downturn may be reversing, with ASX-listed companies expected to distribute almost $40 billion in dividends across September and October. Around $28 billion is expected in September and another $10 billion in October. Total dividends... 
by Rakesh NAYAK | Sep 15, 2026 | Blogs, Market Insights
The August Consumer Price Index report has reignited concerns that U.S. inflation remains unresolved. Headline CPI rose 0.4% month-on-month, lifting annual inflation to 3.4%, while core CPI increased 0.3% monthly and 2.4% annually. The hotter-than-expected monthly... 
by Rakesh NAYAK | Sep 8, 2026 | Blogs, Market Insights
The U.S. labour market surprised to the upside in August 2026, with nonfarm payrolls increasing by 162,000 jobs and the unemployment rate remaining steady at 4.1%. Upward revisions to July’s data also erased previously reported job losses, indicating that the labour... 
by Rakesh NAYAK | Aug 25, 2026 | Blogs, Market Insights
Australia’s labour market showed signs of weakening in July 2026, with employment falling by 15,800 jobs after two strong months of growth that added more than 118,000 positions. The unemployment rate increased slightly to 4.5%, while the participation rate eased to...