The ferrous complex closed the jaws again yesterday. However, the first major data dump post-LNY was bad. CISA mid-February output was up but far below last year. Worse, steel inventories skyrocketed 20% and are far above 2025. Some of this will be CNY and Two Sessions distortion, but with a weak demand outlook in H1,
The usual suspects are putting the boot in as One Nation has proposed a new royalty on Australian gas production, aiming to raise $10bn–$13bn annually by charging producers $1.70–$2 per gigajoule based on output rather than profits. Economists say that even though the party says the plan will “end the rort” on natural gas supplies,
When the final tally of results for the last federal election was released, it revealed that One Nation received 6.4% of the primary vote in the lower house. This result was well within the ballpark of its previous results, with an all-time peak of 8.4% of the primary vote at the 1998 election and 5.0%
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) has released its National Greenhouse Gas Inventory for the September quarter of 2025. It shows that overall greenhouse gas emissions declined by 1.9% over the year to September 30, 2025: As illustrated above, Australia’s total greenhouse gas emissions are tracking at the same level
The Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) has attacked the proposed reduction in the capital gains tax (CGT) discount, arguing that: Reducing the CGT discount (from 50% to 25%) would push landlords to raise rents to compensate for lower after‑tax capital gains. The proposed reduction could potentially affect about 2.4 million renting households. In a
ABS private capex numbers are out and are impressive, if rather narrow. Future capex is expected to rise 7.3% over the next year. Growth in equipment and machinery has soared to 14.3%. Driving the lion’s share of services investment. While mining capex is expected to fall o.4%. The industry segments provide a clear picture. Data
Victoria’s infrastructure program—intended to support a fast‑growing population—has been undermined by corruption and lawlessness. Productivity in the construction sector has fallen over the past decade, while costs have risen sharply. Investigations into the Victorian branch of the CFMEU uncovered systemic criminality and corruption across major construction sites, including: Violence and threats of violence. Infiltration by
Charts from TME. NDX is holding at a convergence of massive support lines. Tech volatility is still ramping on the IA fear trade churning under the bonnet. Puts galore! The last time volatility hit these levels, the squeeze was impressive. Are we at peak capex? If so, the money from hyperscalers will soon flow back
A record 760,000 Australians aged over 65 are now in the workforce—the highest number since records began in 1995 and up nearly 20% since 2022. This marks a major shift in older‑age labour participation. The Coalition claims that cost‑of‑living pressures are forcing people to retire later, but economists and ageing advocates say the picture is
Data from China’s Golden Week Lunar New Year holiday is filtering through, and it’s another bust, after all. The hospitality industry’s growth momentum from long holidays before Lunar New Year (LNY) Golden Week strengthened but it was all about numbers not per capita spending.. After taking into account the length of the holidays, domestic visitors