Former RBA Governor, Philip Lowe noted that boosting Australia’s weak productivity “should be the issue that dominates economic discussion”. At last, this seems to be happening. In the run up to the Federal election there was much discussion about Australia’s falling living standards and poor productivity. And the Government has recognised the issue with the Treasurer to host an “Economic Reform Roundtable” next month. This is good news. But why is productivity a hot topic at present in Australia?

The strength of Australia’s labour market post-Covid has been a surprise to economists. Job vacancies, a forward-looking signal for the labour market, suggest that employment growth is unlikely to slow much further and the unemployment rate may flat-line from here. Job advertisements and the NAB employment indicator have moderated more than the vacancies data.

Global share markets pushed higher again over the last week with US shares up 1.5% helped by a trade deal with Japan and good earnings results.

The Australian residential property market creates much consternation. On one level there is the debate about the outlook for home prices with some real estate spruikers still wheeling out versions of the old “property will double every seven years” line versus property doomsters at the other extreme saying it’s overvalued and overindebted and so a crash is inevitable.

Discover why having separate business and personal bank accounts is essential for mini businesses, sole traders, side hustlers and freelancers to help your business grow.

US and Australian shares pushed on to a new record high in the past week. Despite tariff uncertainty, the US share market was boosted by solid economic data and tech stocks getting a boost on indications Nvidia and others could resume chip sales to China.

Despite plenty of concern around the property downturn, structural problems and now US tariffs, Chinese economic growth has so far been okay. Compared to the roaring 2000s there is no doubt that Chinese growth has slowed.

The ASX200 was down just 0.2% this week despite the RBA’s surprise decision to keep interest rates unchanged rather than cutting the cash rate, with the largest falls in real estate, tech and consumer staples while utilities, materials and financials were up.

Watch AMP's Dr Shane Oliver, Head of Investment Strategy & Chief Economist, and Diana Mousina, Deputy Chief Economist, as they take a look back at the 2024/2025 financial year and share their insights and predictions for markets, Australia and the global economy for the rest of 2025.

Seven key charts worth watching are: Trump’s tariffs; business conditions PMIs; long term inflation expectations; inflation; profit growth; the gap between earnings yields and bond yields; and the $US. For now, they are mixed.

Hear from the AMP Investments team Stuart Eliot, My Bui and Jeronimo Harrison as they reflect on AMP Super's stellar performance last financial year and share their outlook for the year ahead.

Another week of record highs in shares. Share markets mostly pushed higher over the last week, with US shares rising 1.7% to a record high helped by hopes for trade deals, solid US jobs data and as Congress passed Trump’s tax cut bill.