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Australia PM announces new lockdown disaster payments – who’s eligible?

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Scott Morrison

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced a new “temporary COVID-19 disaster payment”

The disaster payment will be made for people who live in declared COVID-19 hotspots and are unable to work because of a lockdown.

It comes as the nation’s second-biggest state of Victoria remains in an extended lockdown due to a COVID-19 outbreak.

The payment will be made available to those unable to work due to imposed lockdowns.

The Federal Government however revealed there are terms and conditions of the payment which include that the area in lockdown must be recognised as a hotspot from the Federal Government.

The PM also stated that payments will not be made available unless an area is locked down for more than two weeks, meaning a one-week lockdown would see no payments to stood down workers.

The Commonwealth Government also stated they reserve the right to cease payments if they no longer designate an area as a hotspot.

Image / Ticker NEWS

The breakdown

Only workers stood down from employment during a lockdown will be eligible for payments.

$500 PAYMENT PER WEEKFOR WORKERS WHO NORMALLY WORK 20+ HRS
$325 PAYMENT PER WEEKFOR WORKERS WHO NORMALLY WORK UNDER 20 HRS PER WEEK

The new payment is set to cost the Australian Government $50 million a week for every 100,000 applicants it pays.

Melbourne testing clinic /Image AFP

Australia’s Victoria remains in lockdown

Victorian Acting Premier James Merlino says vaccination was the only way out of the pandemic and that the locked down state was waiting on Federal support in relation to the federal vaccine rollout.

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Money

Inflation report tests stock rally before Fed meeting

**Inflation report next week could impact stock rally; Fed rate cuts anticipated amid strong job growth and resilient economy.**

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An upcoming inflation report will assess the strength of the U.S. stock market rally and influence the Federal Reserve’s rate cut strategy.

The S&P 500 has recorded its third consecutive weekly gain, increasing over 27% year-to-date.

This upward momentum in equities is influenced by expectations of additional Fed interest rate cuts amid a resilient economy.

Friday’s employment report indicated stronger than expected job growth, reinforcing this positive outlook. However, this data is not expected to change the Fed’s rate plans for its upcoming December meeting.

The consumer price index data due on Wednesday may alter this optimistic sentiment if inflation exceeds expectations, posing risks for well-performing stocks.

Experts note that if inflation rates are high, it could create uncertainty for investors before the Fed meeting.

Following the recent jobs report, the probability of the Fed cutting rates has increased, with nearly a 90% chance predicted for a 25 basis point cut.

The consumer price index is expected to rise by 2.7% over the past year.

If CPI results are higher than expected, it might prompt a cautious approach on future cuts, affecting outlooks for 2025.

Additionally, inflation concerns are heightened by the potential introduction of tariffs by President-elect Donald Trump.

Despite these factors, stock prices continue to rise, although there are warning signs of overly optimistic sentiment in the market.

Some analysts maintain a positive view on stocks heading into the year-end, citing a reduction in concerns surrounding the economy and interest rates.

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Money

Stocks on the way to achieve three consecutive years of gains

S&P 500’s strong 2024 raises hopes, but concerns linger over AI sustainability and economic headwinds affecting future gains.

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The S&P 500 has risen 28% in 2024, poised for consecutive annual gains of over 20%.

Major banks forecast more modest returns for 2025, projecting the index reaching 6500, a 6.7% rise from approximately 6090.

Barclays has a more optimistic target of 6600, with Bank of America and Deutsche Bank expecting 6666 and 7000, respectively.

President-elect Donald Trump’s policies are seen as potentially beneficial for stocks, though high interest rates and geopolitical issues pose risks.

Investors remain cautious about the sustainability of the rally.

Economic conditions

Upcoming inflation data will be crucial for assessing economic conditions before the Federal Reserve’s anticipated rate cut in December.

Increasingly, small-cap stocks are joining the rally, with the Russell 2000 index nearing record highs.

More than 220 S&P stocks have hit 52-week highs recently, which indicates broader market strength, making it less susceptible to downturns.

The early market gains were largely driven by major tech stocks, which continue to perform well amid various challenges.

Long-term growth expectations, however, appear dim, with forecasts suggesting limited gains over the next decade.

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Money

Trump appoints David Sacks as AI and crypto czar

Trump appoints David Sacks as White House AI and crypto czar, focusing on tech leadership and regulatory framework.

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David Sacks has been appointed by President-elect Donald Trump as the White House’s artificial intelligence and crypto czar.

Sacks, a former COO of PayPal, co-founded Craft Ventures and has invested in notable tech companies.

Trump made the announcement on Truth Social, emphasizing Sacks’ role in enhancing America’s leadership in AI and crypto, while protecting free speech and combating Big Tech censorship.

Sacks has previously supported Trump, hosting high-profile fundraisers and discussing political issues on his “All-In” podcast.

Critical of Trump

While he has made donations to various political figures across the spectrum, Sacks has been critical of Trump in the past, especially regarding the January 6 Capitol riot.

His appointment reflects Trump’s strategy of filling his administration with supporters from Silicon Valley and Wall Street who may favor less stringent tech regulations.

Sacks will be tasked with establishing a legal framework for cryptocurrencies in the U.S. and will head a presidential advisory council on science and technology.

This position is notable as the Biden administration has not designated a counterpart for crypto and AI.

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