Money

Businesses left devastated following Sydney lockdown extension

Published

5 years ago

July 7, 2021

Sydney businesses have received another blow with lockdown set to be extended for another week

Greater Sydney’s lockdown has been extended by seven days, with a threat of even tougher restrictions in the city’s southwest, after 27 new locally acquired cases were reported.

Only 13 of those cases were already in isolation.

The state premier expressed concern the Delta variant had now established a foothold in a number of suburbs in the south-west.

The existing lockdown will run until Friday midnight, 16 July, but Ms. Berejiklian said residents in Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown, and Liverpool may face stiffer orders to stop the movement of people.

Many businesses say they are on the edge of collapse and are calling for more government support.

Multiple industries have been forced to close, while others are resorting to operational changes – such as cafe shops and hospitality venues shifting to takeaway only.

The relief package available to businesses

A relief package to help Sydney businesses cope with the financial impacts of the city’s lockdown has been put into place to help operators recoup lost revenue and claim unused stock.

Lobbying from industry groups has meant the support package will echo the one provided to northern beaches businesses over the Christmas lockdown in 2020.

Sydney’s first two weeks in lockdown wiped around $2 billion off Australia’s gross domestic product , with a quarter of the national economy forced to stay home.

Restaurant and Catering Association chief executive Wes Lambert stated that hospitality organisations lost around $70 million in binned stock over the first weekend of lockdown.

Money

U.S. jobs report, Fed decisions, and Japan’s economic risks explained

January US jobs report sparks uncertainty; analysts debate impact on Federal Reserve policy and market confidence.

Published

4 hours ago

February 12, 2026

Harvey Vargas

January US jobs report sparks uncertainty; analysts debate impact on Federal Reserve policy and market confidence.

The January US jobs report shows a mixed picture for the economy, with payroll revisions and steady unemployment leaving analysts questioning the impact on Federal Reserve policy. We break down what the numbers mean for interest rates and market confidence.

US stock markets could face turbulence as investors digest the latest jobs data. David Scutt from StoneX explains how these figures may influence equities and what the outlook is for global markets.

Meanwhile, developments in Japan and a strengthening yen could spark new macroeconomic risks. From carry trades to unexpected shocks, we explore how these factors ripple across the global economy.

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#USJobsReport #FederalReserve #StockMarket #MacroRisks #JapanEconomy #GlobalMarkets #CurrencyTrading #EconomicUpdate

Money

Alphabet launches $20B bond to fund AI expansion

Alphabet’s $20B bond offering highlights investor confidence in AI growth, enabling funding without shareholder dilution.

Published

1 day ago

February 11, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Alphabet’s $20B bond offering highlights investor confidence in AI growth, enabling funding without shareholder dilution.

Alphabet has launched a record $20 billion bond offering to finance its massive AI infrastructure build-out, signalling strong investor confidence in the company’s growth strategy. The oversubscribed sale shows that investors are betting on Alphabet’s AI potential and long-term returns.

By using debt instead of equity, Alphabet can raise funds without diluting shareholders. The money will support AI research, advanced computing, and other strategic projects, cementing the company’s leadership in the sector.

Brad Gastwirth from Circular Technologies explains how corporate debt is reshaping tech financing and how investors perceive AI-linked bonds. This record issuance could set a trend for other tech companies looking to fund innovation.

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Money

AI tax tool sparks market turmoil for financial firms

Major financial firms’ stocks fell sharply after an AI tax tool launch, raising investor fears of disruption in advisory services.

Published

1 day ago

February 11, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Major financial firms’ stocks fell sharply after an AI tax tool launch, raising investor fears of disruption in advisory services.

Shares of major financial services firms tumbled after the launch of a new AI-powered tax planning tool. LPL Financial dropped nearly 11%, while Charles Schwab and Raymond James Financial fell more than 9%, signalling investor concern over AI disrupting traditional advisory services.

Morgan Stanley also saw a 4% decline as fears grow that AI could replace some of the most profitable offerings of established firms. Earlier this year, the introduction of other AI models already caused turbulence in software stocks, suggesting this could be a broader trend affecting multiple sectors.

The iShares U.S. Broker-Dealers and Securities ETF was down 4% on Tuesday, reflecting the market-wide uncertainty surrounding AI adoption in finance. Investors are closely watching whether AI will complement or cannibalise the industry’s core services.

#AIImpact #WallStreet #FinancialMarkets #InvestingNews #MorganStanley #CharlesSchwab #RaymondJames #FinTech