Sun, 17th Nov 2024

In this episode of Financial Services Online's Weekly Finance News Wrap, Paige Estritori discusses key financial trends in Australia and international occurrences. Locally, despite the addition of 16,000 new jobs and speculations, the unemployment rate remained at 4.1% for the third consecutive month. However, the government is addressing cost-of-living issues, with wage growth experiencing a 3.5% hike until September. The Australian Exchange-Traded Fund market also observed a remarkable surge, with the market capitalization reaching a record of $232.5 billion, posting a 52% yearly increase. On the global front, an ethics case involving Inspire Insurance Services in the UK highlighted the importance of transparency in financial practices. Australia's inflation strategy is witnessing easing pressures, with political factors like the upcoming May 2025 elections likely to influence economic strategy and political outcomes.n