Daily-Wrap

After an early burst of optimism in morning trade, sentiment cooled through the session, leaving the market to close weaker despite a more upbeat lead fromWall Streetovernight, where the Dow Jones rose 0.75% to 50,063.46 and theNasdaqComposite gained 0.88% to 26,635.22.

Macro Update:Australia’s latest Budget package combines short-term cost-of-living relief with long-term energy security, tax reform and productivity measures as the government responds to the global oil shock and slowing economic momentum. Key initiatives include a $7.5 billion Fuel and Fertiliser SecurityFacility, a $250 Working …

Macro Update:Australia’s housing finance market cooled in the March quarter 2026 as higher interest rates and softer borrowing activity weighed on lending momentum, according to new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The number of new home loans fell 6.2 per cent to …

Macro Update:Morgan Stanley has warned that global oil markets are entering a “race against time” as keySupplybuffers could be exhausted if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed beyond June. The bank said reduced Chinese crude imports and higher U.S. exports have so far softened …

Macro Update:US employers added more jobs than expected in April, with payrolls rising by 300,000, marking the strongest two-month hiring increase since 2024. The data signalled improving labour market momentum after near-flatJobgrowth last year, while theUnemploymentrate remained steady despite higher energy costs linked to …

Macro Update:The latest UN Trade and Development’s Global Trade Update has highlighted how non-Tariffmeasures (NTMs) have become a larger barrier to global trade than tariffs for most countries. While tariffs rose sharply in 2025 — up 10% for developed economies and 18% for least …

Macro Update:Australia’s trade balance weakened sharply in March, with the seasonally adjusted goods surplus narrowing by AUD 6.87 bn to aDeficitof AUD 1.84 bn, marking the country’s first monthlyTrade Deficitsince December 2017. The shift was driven by a combination of softer export performance and …