Canada’s Trade Deficit Jumps in November as Exports Slide and Firms Diversify Away From U.S. 
Wall Street Slides as Warsh Fed Nomination, Hot Inflation, and Precious Metals Rout Shake Markets 
Asian Stocks Waver as Trump Signals Fed Pick, Shutdown Deal and Tech Earnings Stir Markets 
Trump to Announce New Federal Reserve Chair Pick as Powell Replacement Looms 
China Home Prices Rise in January as Government Signals Stronger Support for Property Market 
Trump Threatens 50% Tariff on Canadian Aircraft Amid Escalating U.S.-Canada Trade Dispute 
Indonesia Stocks Face Fragile Sentiment After MSCI Warning and Market Rout 
Asia Stocks Pause as Tech Earnings, Fed Signals, and Dollar Weakness Drive Markets 
China Factory Activity Slips in January as Weak Demand Weighs on Growth Outlook 
Oil Prices Surge Toward Biggest Monthly Gains in Years Amid Middle East Tensions 
U.S. Government Faces Brief Shutdown as Congress Delays Funding Deal 
Gold Prices Pull Back After Record Highs as January Rally Remains Strong 
India Budget 2026: Modi Government Eyes Reforms Amid Global Uncertainty and Fiscal Pressures 
Indonesian Stocks Plunge as MSCI Downgrade Risk Sparks Investor Exodus 
U.S. and El Salvador Sign Landmark Critical Minerals Agreement to Boost Investment and Trade 
U.S. Eases Venezuela Oil Sanctions to Boost American Investment After Maduro Ouster 
Australia’s labour market showed clear signs of cooling in November, with national employment falling by the most in nine months. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, total employment declined by 23,100 jobs, reversing October’s strong gain of 41,200 and missing market expectations of a 20,000 increase. The drop was driven largely by a significant loss of 56,500 full-time positions, underscoring softening economic momentum.
Annual job growth slowed to 1.3%, a sharp deceleration from 3.5% earlier in the year and notably below the nation’s 2% population growth. Despite weakening employment conditions, the unemployment rate held steady at 4.3%, defying forecasts for a slight rise. The participation rate eased to 66.7% from 66.9%, while total hours worked remained flat following consecutive months of growth.
Economists noted that some volatility was expected after October’s surge. Harry Murphy Cruise of Oxford Economics highlighted that short-term fluctuations can mask broader labour trends, and the underlying picture points to a gradual cooling of the job market. This softening reduces pressure on the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to implement near-term rate hikes.
Financial markets responded modestly, with the Australian dollar dipping 0.1% to $0.6667 and three-year government bond futures extending gains. Interest rate swaps now reflect a 23% probability of a February rate hike, rising to around 70% by May, with two increases priced in by the end of next year.
The RBA recently kept its cash rate at 3.6%, signalling no immediate policy easing as inflation remains elevated. Headline inflation rose for the fourth consecutive month to 3.8% in October, while trimmed mean inflation reached 3.3%, still above the central bank’s 2%–3% target range. Strong economic growth—its fastest in two years—has been fuelled by government, consumer and business spending, potentially adding to inflationary pressures even as the labour market loosens.
