Money

Black Friday sickies will cost the economy millions

Published

3 years ago

November 24, 2022

Costa Haritos

Australian shoppers will spend more on this week’s Black Friday sales than Boxing Day.

New research from Finder has found one in three Australians will shop during the Black Friday sales.

The sales succeed the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S., and marks the start of the Christmas shopping period.

The sales have taken off around the world. In fact, the festive shopping event is expected to drive the market up to US$123.9 billion internationally.

But employers will be paying a big price as staff prepare to take the day off and take advantage of those sales.

Taylor Blackburn is a personal finance expert at Finder, who said Black Friday could cost Australian employers $192 million in lost productivity/

“Employers could be facing a spike in absenteeism this Friday as Aussie’s hunt down the best end of year deals.”

Men (4%) are more likely to call in sick to hit the shops than women (3%).

This is not a new phenomenon, as over 544,000 Australian workers have called in sick to go shopping this year.

“The holidays are a notoriously expensive time of year, compounded by the spiralling cost of living so the bigger discounts on offer during Black Friday may well be too enticing to pass up.”
TAYLOR BLACKBURN, FINDER

The global retail market has changed over the past decade. A rise in instant purchases online has led to a decline in purchases made at traditional public outlets, according to Future Market Insights.

In addition, analysts believe the Covid-19 pandemic has seen a reluctance from customers to enter crowded stores.

“By luring more consumers into stores and encouraging online spending, Black Friday and Cyber Monday soon became a ‘thing’ that jumped borders to stake their claim Down Under,” said Erik Bigalk, who is a licensee at Calendar Club’s Sunshine Coast.

Finder’s research found millennials are most likely to call in sick to go shopping, with 7 per cent admitting they have taken a day off this year.

Clothing and shoes (69%), electronics and gadgets (36%), and food and alcohol (25%) remain some of the most popular items on shopping lists.

Money

U.S. dollar weakens while Australian dollar rises amid global market shifts

Published

3 days ago

January 30, 2026

Harvey Vargas

US dollar weakens as Trump comments; Australian dollar gains from commodity prices and RBA rate hike expectations

The US dollar is coming under pressure as the economy remains strong and President Trump comments on its decline. We explore how this is impacting major currencies around the world and what it means for investors.

Meanwhile, the Australian dollar is benefiting from rising commodity prices and growing expectations of an RBA rate hike. Global investors are increasingly drawn to Australia’s bond market as economic conditions shift.

Currency trading strategies are adapting to this changing landscape, with potential implications for interest rates and international markets. Steve Gopalan from SkandaFX breaks down the trends.

Subscribe to never miss an episode of Ticker – https://www.youtube.com/@weareticker

#USDDollar #AustralianDollar #ForexTrading #RBA #InterestRates #GlobalEconomy #CurrencyMarket #Ticker

Money

Wall Street slides as AI spending raises investor concerns

Wall Street dips as AI spending scrutiny rises; Microsoft struggles while Meta thrives. Tune in for insights!

Published

3 days ago

January 30, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Wall Street dips as AI spending scrutiny rises; Microsoft struggles while Meta thrives.

Wall Street closed lower on Thursday, with the Nasdaq leading losses as investors questioned whether Big Tech’s massive AI spending will pay off. Microsoft shares tumbled after revealing record AI infrastructure costs, while Meta rallied on strong earnings and a bullish outlook.

Kyle Rodda from Capital.com joins us to explain what spooked markets, which tech names are holding up, and whether AI budgets are getting too big.

We also discuss rate expectations, macro risks, and what to watch in the upcoming earnings season.

Subscribe to never miss an episode of Ticker – https://www.youtube.com/@weareticker

Money

Tesla brand value plummets amid Elon Musk’s political focus

Tesla’s brand value plummeted to $27.61 billion in 2025 amid Musk’s political shift, sparking investor concern.

Published

5 days ago

January 28, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Tesla’s brand value plummeted to $27.61 billion in 2025 amid Musk’s political shift, sparking investor concern.

Tesla’s brand value plummeted by $15.4 billion in 2025, falling to $27.61 billion from $66.2 billion in early 2023. Analysts say Elon Musk’s political focus and a slowdown in new models have distracted the company’s core business.

In the U.S., Tesla’s recommendation score sank to just 4 out of 10, down from 8.2 in 2023. Despite this, loyalty among existing owners remains high at 92 per cent, showing a strong but shrinking fan base.

#TeslaNews #ElonMusk #BrandValue