German Industry Employment Falls to Lowest Level in a Decade 
Asian Currencies Stabilize as Dollar Holds Near Two-Month High After Fed Hawkish Signal 
Italy’s Economy Outpaces Eurozone Peers as Investment Spending Fuels Growth 
Canada, British Columbia Launch $5 Billion Infrastructure Partnership to Boost Housing, Transit, and Healthcare 
Gold Prices Rebound on U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Optimism Despite Fed Rate Hike Signals 
Oil Prices Steady as U.S.-Iran Truce Uncertainty and Middle East Tensions Keep Markets on Edge 
Asian Currencies Steady as Dollar Holds Firm Ahead of Fed Decision and US-Iran Deal Details 
Dollar Surges After Fed Holds Rates Steady, Signals Potential Tightening Ahead 
US Stock Futures Slip After Wall Street Rally Fueled by US-Iran Deal and Chipmaker Surge 
Japan Inflation Stays Below BOJ Target Despite Rate Hike and Rising Energy Cost Risks 
Japan Signals Readiness to Intervene as USD/JPY Nears 161 Amid Yen Weakness 
China’s AI Manufacturing Boom Masks Weak Consumer Economy, Citi Says 
Australia Eases Capital Gains Tax Reforms to Support Small Businesses and Startups 
Canada Imposes 10% Tariff on Canned Vegetable Imports to Protect Domestic Industry 
BOJ Signals More Rate Hikes as Inflation Risks Rise Amid Energy Price Pressures 
Dollar Hits One-Month High as Hawkish Fed Outlook Boosts Greenback 
Australia’s inflation rate accelerated more than expected in October, reinforcing concerns that the Reserve Bank of Australia may have limited room to continue easing monetary policy. New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed headline CPI rising 3.8% year-on-year—higher than the projected 3.6% and marking the strongest inflation reading since June 2024. The persistent uptick highlights mounting price pressures across key sectors, particularly housing, food, and energy.
Underlying inflation also edged higher, with trimmed mean CPI increasing to 3.3% in October from 3.2% in September. Analysts note that both headline and core inflation remain above the RBA’s 2% to 3% target range, adding complexity to the central bank’s policy path as it weighs economic stability against inflation control.
A major factor behind October’s inflation spike was soaring electricity costs, which surged 37.1% after state government electricity rebates expired in recent months. These rebates had previously kept power prices artificially low, and their removal has triggered a sharp reversal. The October release also marked the ABS’s first fully expanded monthly CPI report under a new methodology designed to provide more frequent and detailed inflation insights.
The hotter-than-expected reading represents the fourth consecutive month in which inflation has exceeded forecasts. As a result, financial markets quickly adjusted expectations, with the likelihood of a December rate cut by the RBA fading. Many investors now anticipate a prolonged pause in the bank’s easing cycle.
Economists at Capital Economics said the latest data shows strengthening inflationary momentum, making near-term rate cuts increasingly unlikely. They warned that if inflation remains sticky, the RBA may delay additional cuts until the latter half of 2026, effectively signaling that the current cycle of policy easing could be nearing its end.
Market reactions were swift: the Australian dollar climbed 0.4%, while domestic equities gave back part of their earlier gains as traders digested the implications of the report.
