logo
ASX set to edge up, Wall Street hits records; Trump says he has buyer for TikTok

ASX set to edge up, Wall Street hits records; Trump says he has buyer for TikTok

The Age14 hours ago

US stocks closed at an all-time high, another milestone in the market's remarkable recovery from a plunge caused by fears that the Trump administration's trade policies could harm the economy.
The S&P 500 rose 0.5 per cent, finishing above its previous record set in February. The key measure of Wall Street's health fell nearly 20 per cent from February 19 through April 8.
The market's complete turnaround from its deep swoon happened in about half the time that it normally takes, said Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA.
'Investors will breathe a sigh of relief,' he said.
The Nasdaq composite gained 0.5 per cent and set its own all-time high. The Dow Jones rose 1 per cent.
Loading
The Australian sharemarket is set to inch up, with futures on Saturday pointing to a rise of 5 points, or 0.1 per cent, at the open. The Australian dollar is steady. It was fetching 65.28 US cents at 5.16am AEST.
President Donald Trump's decision Friday to halt trade talks with Canada threatened to derail Wall Street's run to a record, but the market steadied after the S&P 500 briefly turned negative.
The gains on Friday were broad, with nearly every sector within the S&P 500 rising. Nike soared 15.2 per cent for the biggest gain in the market, despite warning of a steep hit from tariffs.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

WA sheep producers' confidence grows but many still wary about growing flocks
WA sheep producers' confidence grows but many still wary about growing flocks

West Australian

time25 minutes ago

  • West Australian

WA sheep producers' confidence grows but many still wary about growing flocks

WA sheep farmers' confidence is improving on the back of high sheep prices, but more than half are still planning on reducing their flock size during the next 12 months. The change in sentiment was revealed in Meat and Livestock Australia's most recent Sheep Producers Intention Survey, which collected responses from more than 2370 producers across the nation in May. The survey, released by MLA and Australian Wool Innovation twice per year, marked the first time since October 2022 that all States — including WA — had reported positive or neutral sentiment. WA, which had a net sentiment of -64 in May last year, has reached neutral ground at 0 net sentiment, one year on. MLA senior marketing information analyst Erin Lukey said the 'pronounced' rebound in sentiment in WA was closely linked to rising sheep prices. 'Prices have risen significantly, particularly for finished lambs, which has buoyed confidence even as producers face tough seasonal and regulatory conditions,' she said. 'This is especially the case in WA, where the rebound in sentiment has been most pronounced. 'While producers in WA are wary of investing in flock growth amid uncertainty about future market access, others are adjusting breeding strategies or retaining more replacement ewes to adapt to changing conditions.' Despite this, the survey showed WA graziers were still planning on reducing their flock sizes, with a lack of confidence widely attributed to the Federal Government's plan to ban live sheep exports by May 2028. The survey revealed there were 10.14 million sheep in WA in 2025, including 9.04m breeding ewes and 1.10m wethers. But that figure was set to dip to 8.12m in 2026, with 7.28m breeding ewes and 840,000 wethers. The survey revealed WA's breeding ewe flock was forecast to fall by 19 per cent, with 58 per cent of producers planning to reduce their numbers during the next 12 months. Ms Lukey said WA graziers were 'wary' and 'taking a conservative approach' with their businesses, while in the Eastern States a combination of drought and flooding were making it difficult to maintain large flocks. The WA response was in line with the national response, with 41 per cent of surveyed producers planning to reduce their breeding ewe flock and 26 per cent planning to reduce their wether numbers. 'Many producers are taking a more conservative approach. 'Input costs, labour availability, and regulatory pressures, particularly the live sheep export phase-out, are weighing heavily on producers' minds.' Survey respondents found it difficult to pin-point a single off-farm external factor shaping their decision-making, instead listing five that were having an effect. These were weather conditions and the impact on feed availability, continued mention of the live sheep export ban and government decisions, input costs specifically for feed and day-to-day expenses, personal circumstances and forward planning, and the access to and cost of labour. Ms Lukey said Australian sheep producers were adapting their strategies and continued to evolve in the market's current climate. 'Whether it's retaining more replacement ewes, adjusting breeding strategies or responding to market demand, the sector continues to evolve,' she said. While farmers were feeling more positive about sheepmeat, they were feeling notably more pessimistic about the future of the wool sector — with nearly one in two producers having a 'negative outlook' for the sector. The next Sheep Producer Intentions Survey will focus on lambs and be released in October.

‘Convenience is at odds with security': Why it's going to be slower – and safer – to access your money
‘Convenience is at odds with security': Why it's going to be slower – and safer – to access your money

Sydney Morning Herald

time38 minutes ago

  • Sydney Morning Herald

‘Convenience is at odds with security': Why it's going to be slower – and safer – to access your money

Australians are set for slower but more secure online banking as the country's biggest banks roll out multifactor authentication to prevent customers falling victim to scams and fraud. It's estimated Australian banks spend hundreds of millions of dollars on cybersecurity, employing everything from facial or voice recognition to fingerprints, SMS codes and authenticator apps to verify users' identity. But payments expert Mike Ebstein said the banks had been 'slow out of the blocks on digital security'. 'Australia is way behind in all this stuff,' banking and payments consultant Grant Halverson agreed. Halverson said two-factor authentication, which has been used overseas for between five and 10 years, was like having a fire extinguisher at home. 'Does it stop the fire? No. Does it put it out? Possibly,' he said. In the coming months, Australia's biggest bank, Commonwealth, will force customers using a computer and who have the bank's app to confirm their identity every time via the app. This means thieves would need more than a username and password to access an account. However, customers without the app will not have two-factor authentication. Westpac, National Australia Bank and ANZ also require multifactor authentication, although not for every logon. According to the Australian Community Attitudes to Privacy Survey 2023, some 43 per cent of people use multifactor authentication when it's available. The Australian Banking Association said the country's banks were world leaders in security. It said multifactor authentication was 'just one of the many tools used to verify identity and safety accounts', alongside shared scam intelligence, limits on high-risk payment channels, payment delays and security questions.

‘Convenience is at odds with security': Why it's going to be slower – and safer – to access your money
‘Convenience is at odds with security': Why it's going to be slower – and safer – to access your money

The Age

time41 minutes ago

  • The Age

‘Convenience is at odds with security': Why it's going to be slower – and safer – to access your money

Australians are set for slower but more secure online banking as the country's biggest banks roll out multifactor authentication to prevent customers falling victim to scams and fraud. It's estimated Australian banks spend hundreds of millions of dollars on cybersecurity, employing everything from facial or voice recognition to fingerprints, SMS codes and authenticator apps to verify users' identity. But payments expert Mike Ebstein said the banks had been 'slow out of the blocks on digital security'. 'Australia is way behind in all this stuff,' banking and payments consultant Grant Halverson agreed. Halverson said two-factor authentication, which has been used overseas for between five and 10 years, was like having a fire extinguisher at home. 'Does it stop the fire? No. Does it put it out? Possibly,' he said. In the coming months, Australia's biggest bank, Commonwealth, will force customers using a computer and who have the bank's app to confirm their identity every time via the app. This means thieves would need more than a username and password to access an account. However, customers without the app will not have two-factor authentication. Westpac, National Australia Bank and ANZ also require multifactor authentication, although not for every logon. According to the Australian Community Attitudes to Privacy Survey 2023, some 43 per cent of people use multifactor authentication when it's available. The Australian Banking Association said the country's banks were world leaders in security. It said multifactor authentication was 'just one of the many tools used to verify identity and safety accounts', alongside shared scam intelligence, limits on high-risk payment channels, payment delays and security questions.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store