FEAR & GREED | Business News Inflation hits rate cut hopes; Apple, Microsoft pass $US4tr; social media’s creative bans
6 snips
Oct 29, 2025 Hot inflation spikes, crushing dreams of near-term interest rate cuts just before Melbourne Cup Day. Woolworths faces disappointing sales, while tech titans Apple and Microsoft surpass a staggering $4 trillion in market value. As social media companies get inventive to enforce under-16 user bans, the government deals with scrutiny over social housing shortages. Plus, insights into copper prices as economic indicators and more on what’s driving small business growth ahead of the holidays.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Surprise Inflation Kills Rate Cut Hopes
- The September quarter trimmed-mean inflation jumped 1%, well above forecasts and ended hopes for an interest rate cut this year.
- Widespread price rises from electricity to rents suggest both goods and services inflation are rising simultaneously.
Markets Swiftly Reprice Rate Expectations
- Markets reacted quickly: the ASX 200 fell about 1% and bond traders priced just a 4% chance of a next-week rate cut.
- Higher local rates lifted the Australian dollar above 66 US cents as overseas investors bought AUD.
Big Tech Valuations Hit New Peaks
- Microsoft and Apple surpassed US$4 trillion market caps after Microsoft gained more OpenAI ownership.
- OpenAI's private valuation at $762 billion would place it among the largest global companies if listed.