Market Reports

• Australian Market Report: A strong start for the Australian sharemarket lost some of its momentum on Wednesday, the S&P/ASX 200 closed 69.50, or 0.8 per cent, higher at 8606.50, having jumped as much as 1.2 per cent earlier in the session..... [more]

• U.S. Market Report: Wall Street's main indexes rose for a fourth consecutive session on Wednesday, as investors doubled down on bets the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates in December..... [more]

• European Market Report: European stocks traded higher on Wednesday, adding to the previous session's gains amid Fed rate cut hopes and signs of progress in talks to end the war in Ukraine..... [more]

• Asian Market Report: Asian stocks rose for a third day running on Wednesday as weak U.S. economic data bolstered investor hopes for a Federal Reserve interest rate cut next month..... [more]

Australian Business News

• Annual inflation rose to a 16-month high of 3.8% in October, adding to pressure on the government as it seeks to make savings across the public sector..... [more]

• Reserve Bank could raise interest rates as early as May after inflation climbs to 3.8%.... [more]

• RBA delays decision on removal of surcharge and interchange fees.... [more]

• Tasmania's credit rating has been downgraded from Aa2 to Aa3 by major ratings agency Moody's, making it the lowest of all Australian states..... [more]

• Australia’s gender pay gap narrowed further in 2025, but women still earn on average about $28,000 a year less than men, the Workplace Gender Equality Agency’s latest equality scorecard has revealed..... [more]

• Regulators warn super funds falling short on retirement obligations.... [more]

• The search for affordable housing is behind a surge in regional New South Wales property prices, as the state's combined value of land surpasses $3 trillion for the first time..... [more]

• How to invest through every economic season. No single strategy wins every season but the right mix can build resilience..... [more]

• Infini Resources has wrapped up boots-on-the-ground work at its Reynolds Lake and Reitenbach Lake uranium projects in Canada’s renowned Athabasca Basin where it is looking to sharpen up and lock in drill targets.... [more]

• Lithium brine assets in the Americas are now in Liontown’s sights with the company champing at the bit to make an acquisition..... [more]

• Atlantic Lithium Ltd (AIM:ALL, ASX:A11, OTCID:ALLIF), the company aiming to build Ghana’s first lithium mine, has boosted its finances, announcing it has secured fresh backing from Long State Investments..... [more]

• 88 Energy locks in big Alaskan oil production test for 2026.... [more]

• Financial planning software company Iress Limited found its share price surging and then retreating as it found itself having to hose down media speculation that it had finally received a takeover offer..... [more]

• In the spirit of being truthful and transparent, antiviral and antibacterial nasal spray developer Firebrick Pharma(ASX:FRE) has paired the results of a shareholder survey at its AGM today..... [more]

• Electro Optic jumps as ASIC investigation fizzles out into measly $4M fine.... [more]

• Proteomics International has notched up a major win in the US, with the nation’s powerful Medicare system setting a reimbursement price of US$390.75 (A$604) for the company’s groundbreaking PromarkerD.... [more]

• So-called “ghost store” operators are taking advantage of Christmas and Black Friday to lure shoppers to their websites, as the consumer regulator warns Australians that artificial intelligence is making it even harder.... [more]

• Opinion - Elizabeth Knight: War of the megaphones: Australian billionaires push their climate agendas.... [more]

• Comment - Greg Jericho: The latest inflation figures offer no joy – except to the gas producers whose windfall profits remain largely untouched..... [more]

• Analysis/Opinion - Sebastian Bowen: Invest like Warren Buffett with this ASX ETF. This ETF holds stocks that Buffett might approve of..... [more]

World Business News

• Market Volatility Underscores Epic Buildup of Global Risk. Some experts see a dangerous combination of factors reminiscent of practices that led to previous financial crises..... [more]

• U.S. consumers were much less confident in the economy in November in the aftermath of the government shutdown, weak hiring and stubborn inflation..... [more]

• US retail sales rose slightly in September, adding to months of big gains.... [more]

• What iPhone slump? Apple is set to become the industry leader for the first time in 14 years..... [more]

• Meme stock favorite Kohl's is surging again, but it's not just Reddit hype driving the rally this time.... [more]

• Venture Global, Tokyo Gas sign 20-year LNG supply deal.... [more]

• HP Inc said on Tuesday it expects to cut between 4,000 and 6,000 jobs globally by fiscal 2028 as part of a plan to streamline operations and adopt artificial intelligence to speed up product development,.... [more]

• NYC’s Squeezed Landlords Need $1 Billion to Help Avoid Default.... [more]

• Warner settles lawsuit with AI music firm and launches joint venture.... [more]

• NYC comptroller's push to drop BlackRock creates test for Mamdani.... [more]

• Meta, YouTube, TikTok and Snapchat know exactly how addictive their platforms can be to teens. And they continue to target teen users anyway. Those are allegations a group of school districts is making in a lawsuit .... [more]

• Nvidia has claimed it is "a generation ahead" of rivals in the artificial intelligence (AI) industry amid growing suggestions a rival may emerge to threaten to its market dominance - and multi-trillion dollar valuation..... [more]

• Brazil's annual inflation back within target range for first time since January.... [more]

• UK’s unpopular government delivers tax-raising budget after leak that outlined its main plans.... [more]

• The UK economy is now predicted to grow at a slower rate than previously expected from next year, the government's official forecaster has said. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).... [more]

• Reeves freezes fuel duty for now as she confirms 3p-a-mile electric vehicle charge.... [more]

• Volkswagen faces pressure-driven reset in 2026 after a difficult year.... [more]

• Sweden grants green steel startup Stegra $41 million in funding.... [more]

• Tesla does not exclude suppliers based on their country of origin as the US electric-vehicle (EV) maker applies unified and rigorous standards in selecting vendors from around the globe, according to a senior official..... [more]

• China Builder Vanke Seeks Yuan Bond Extension for First Time.... [more]

• Temasek-owned Seviora Group said on Wednesday it would integrate Pavilion Capital into its platform to build a leading Asia-based asset management group, lifting combined assets under management to about $72 billion..... [more]

• SoftBank’s 40% Slide From Peak Shows Worry Over Giant OpenAI Bet.... [more]

• Hyundai Motor to recall 143,472 US vehicles over rearview image issue, NHTSA says.... [more]

• Apple contests India's antitrust penalty law with risk of $38 billion fine, filing shows.... [more]

• The IMF on Wednesday reclassified India's "de facto" exchange rate regime as a "crawl-like arrangement", two years after branding it "stabilised"..... [more]