Canada, US Hold Fresh Trade Talks as August 19 Tariff Deadline Nears 
Gold Prices Hold Near Seven-Week High as Markets Await U.S. Inflation Data 
Gold Prices Rise as Fed Rate Hike Bets Ease 
U.S. Stock Futures Flat Ahead of July CPI Data 
Gold Prices Fall Amid Rate Jitters; Copper Steady as China Stimulus Eyed 
Dollar Steady as Markets Await U.S. Inflation Data 
S&P 500, Nasdaq Futures Rise as Iran Risks and CPI Loom 
Asian Currencies Steady Ahead of US CPI as Oil Prices Rise 
England Drought Expands to 71% as Heatwave Deepens Water Crisis 
South Korean Won Leads Asian FX Losses as Dollar Rises 
Australia’s business conditions nudged higher during the month of September, rising slightly to 14.8 from 14.0. Conditions remain below the peak seen through 2017-18, but are otherwise the strongest since the Global Financial Crisis (GFC).
The details of the report were mixed, although most indicators remain around encouraging levels. Profitability rose again, building on the sharp improvement seen in August, which suggests that a continuation in solid employment growth.
On the other hand capacity utilisation fell in September, and the trend improvement of recent years appears to have stalled. However, it still points toward the economy making further inroads into reducing the unemployment rate.
Meanwhile, the results were also mixed across the states, with Victoria and South Australia posting an improvement in conditions, while Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania fell. New South Wales was flat. Looking through the monthly volatility, conditions in all states are above their long-run averages. Tasmania is leading the way on this measure, likely supported by strong housing and tourism sectors.
