Markets

Wesfarmers’ boss has singled out one State for a ‘disproportionate’ amount of theft by organised crime gangs and has blamed its ‘very draconian lockdown’ for leaving ‘mental and economic scars’.

A sharp rebound of inflation will ‘unsettle’ the Reserve Bank and dampen any hopes of a September rate cut, even as Treasurer Jim Chalmers paints a rosy outlook.

The unprecedented move constitutes a sharp escalation in the US President’s battle to exert greater control over what has long been considered an institution independent from day-to-day politics.

Up’s customer numbers leapt 29 per cent to 1.2 million in the 2025 financial year, fuelling an 11 per cent jump across the Bendigo group to 2.9 million customers.

Politicians, particularly in Europe, are in a terrible bind.

Guzman y Gomez investors have deserted the Mexican-themed restaurant chain even after it declared a maiden dividend and cracked $1 billion in sales for its nachos, burritos and tacos for the first time.

Investors' eyes will be on the Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium, where Fed Chair Jerome Powell is scheduled to speak on Friday.

The S&P-ASX200 closed at a new peak of 9019.1 points on Thursday for a gain of 1.1 per cent, just four months after plumbing 7400 when markets tanked on US President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

Home appliances maker Breville says it has managed to dodge Donald Trump’s tariffs — for now — by bringing forward early products into the US before the President’s April orders.