Trump uncertainty set to smash Australian economy
Australia is not following the "bouncing ball" of Donald Trump's daily shifts, the treasurer says, amid predictions of a bigger-than-expected economic hit.
The economy
Donald Trump's latest attack on a pillar of the global economy could renew market stress as Australian homeowners eye a supersized rate cut.
Australia's jobs market is holding up better than expected, but the impact of Donald Trump-imposed tariffs is yet to play out across the globe.
A record-high 9.4 per cent of food service and hospitality businesses shut their doors in the year to March as cost pressures weighed heavily on households.
The economy
Uncertainty the only sure thing as market chaos reigns
Equities and commodities have whipsawed at the whims of erratic US trade policy but worrying signs are emerging in the plumbing that holds markets together.
Update
Aussie shares lower as uncertainty trumps confidence
The Australian share market has finished the week down after a tariff delay wasn't enough to offset worries over an escalating US-China trade war.
The economy
Australian economy still vulnerable to US bond turmoil
The bonds market upheaval that threatened to crash the US financial system and forced Donald Trump's hand highlighted vulnerabilities for Australian banks.
As rate-cut bets see-saw, the Reserve Bank governor says Australia is well placed for overseas shocks in her first speech since Donald Trump's tariff thump.
Australian shares have rebounded strongly after US President Donald Trump delayed his latest round of tariffs as the US-China trade war escalates.
Australian shares have posted their best daily gain for 2025, about a quarter of the last three sessions' losses, as a global trade war weighs on markets.
Australian shares have resumed their spiral after China joined Canada in hitting back against US tariffs and futures markets suggest there is more pain ahead.
Australian shares have tumbled after Donald Trump's tariffs rocked equities worldwide, raising fears for Australians' retirement incomes and the economy.
The Reserve Bank of Australia has kept the cash rate unchanged at 4.1 per cent, but more mortgage relief could soon be on the way.
Inflation continues to ease, with the headline figure falling 0.1 per cent in February, but it likely won't be enough to prompt an interest rate cut until May.
Fewer older Australians returned to work in February, driving a surprise fall in jobs and workforce participation but the labour market remains tight overall.
Australia's economic growth forecasts have been downgraded due to Donald Trump's trade war, keeping its most important financial leaders on their toes.
Stretched valuations, risk of a US recession and lingering geopolitical issues have set the scene for an unsteady 2025 for global and Australian shares.
One state has gone backwards in the latest recommended GST revenue carve-up with billions of dollars flowing to another as its population booms.
Australia's economic outlook is looking rosier as inflation continues to fall and following the first decline in interest rates in more than four years.
