Money

Gender pay gap – Calls grow for accountability

Published

1 year ago

February 27, 2024

Ahron Young

The unveiling of gender pay gaps within large Australian organisations marks a significant milestone for gender equality, but experts emphasise the urgent need for greater accountability and action from employers, asserts a University of South Australia researcher.

Professor Carol Kulik, an authority in workplace diversity, underscores the importance of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency’s release of gender pay gap data for large Australian employers as a pivotal step forward.

However, she stresses that the true impact of this revelation will hinge on the proactive measures taken by organizations to address and narrow the existing disparity.

The WGEA’s disclosure will shed light on gender pay gaps among private sector employers with 100 or more employees for the first time.

This move comes amid ongoing efforts to promote and enhance workplace gender equality.

Pay gap

According to the WGEA’s 2023 report, the average gender pay gap in Australia stands at 21.7%, translating to women earning an average of $26,393 less per year than their male counterparts.

Professor Kulik, a member of the SA Gender Pay Gap Taskforce, underscores the importance of further actions to ensure that organizations are held accountable for addressing pay gaps.

“We now must be asking employers important questions,” Professor Kulik asserts.

“In what roles and levels of employment are pay gaps most prevalent? How are employers supporting employees’ caring responsibilities? What measures are being implemented to facilitate women’s advancement into higher-paying roles? How soon can employers commit to closing their pay gaps?”

Tend to escalate

Highlighting the trajectory of pay gaps over time, Professor Kulik notes that initial disparities between men and women at the outset of their careers tend to escalate as pay rises are often calculated as a percentage of an employee’s current salary.

Career breaks and caregiving responsibilities further exacerbate these discrepancies, resulting in women retiring with significantly lower superannuation than men.

Drawing parallels from regulatory interventions in other countries, Professor Kulik underscores the unintended consequences that may arise.

For instance, while legislative mandates in Denmark narrowed the gender pay gap, they also prompted employers to compress salary distributions, impacting both male and female employees.

Money

Divorce spike in Australia triggers hidden tax risks

Australia sees increased divorce filings amid emotional challenges, with many couples overlooking significant tax pitfalls in their settlements.

Published

22 hours ago

April 29, 2025

ticker NEWS

Australia sees increased divorce filings amid emotional challenges, with many couples overlooking significant tax pitfalls in their settlements.

Australia is facing a sharp rise in divorce filings over the past two months — but as couples navigate emotional breakups, many are missing major tax traps hidden in their settlements.

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Money

Stocks rebound despite tariff concerns and earnings anticipation

US stocks rebound amid tariff uncertainty; key earnings reports and economic data loom as volatility persists in the market.

Published

1 day ago

April 29, 2025

Ahron Young

US stocks rebound amid tariff uncertainty; key earnings reports and economic data loom as volatility persists in the market.

In Short

The stock market recovered after an early decline, led by companies like Boeing and IBM.

Investors are cautious ahead of upcoming economic data and potential trade developments, with projections of a 7% drop in S&P 500 earnings by 2025 due to tariffs.

A late recovery in the stock market reversed an early decline as dip buyers entered during a volatile day.

On Monday, the S&P 500 completed its fifth reversal of 1% or more in a month, matching the total seen throughout 2024. Gains were led by Boeing and IBM, while Nvidia fell following Huawei’s announcement regarding a new chip. Major tech companies, including Microsoft and Apple, are expected to report earnings soon.

Short-term Treasuries performed better, and the dollar weakened amidst ongoing economic data releases.

Economic data

The upcoming week promises substantial economic data, with reports on jobs and inflation due. A Texas manufacturing survey revealed significant weakness, with executives describing the tariff situation as chaotic.

Experts predict an eventful week, with potential for market volatility driven by various trade and economic headlines. Investors are particularly attuned to trade relations with China, with outlooks hinging on government actions.

Despite some executives remaining uncertain about tariff impacts, analysts are calculating potential effects on corporate earnings. Bloomberg Economics projects net income for the S&P 500 could drop around 7% by 2025 due to elevated tariff rates, compared to previous growth expectations.

Morgan Stanley suggests that a weak dollar may help US earnings, keeping the S&P 500 within a 5,000 to 5,500 range unless trade agreements with China are made, alongside a rebound in earnings and potential easing of monetary policy.

Money

Busy week: big tech earnings, U.S. jobs data

Busy week for markets with major tech earnings and U.S. jobs data shaping investor sentiment amid trade uncertainties.

Published

3 days ago

April 27, 2025

Ahron Young

Busy week for markets with major tech earnings and U.S. jobs data shaping investor sentiment amid trade uncertainties.

In Short

Next week, major tech companies, including Apple and Microsoft, will report earnings alongside key economic data, amid ongoing global trade concerns.

The S&P 500 has seen some recovery but remains down 10% since February, with investors anxiously awaiting the U.S. jobs report and economic growth indicators.

Next week, U.S. markets anticipate significant activity as big tech companies release earnings and crucial economic data is reported.

Investors will focus on corporate results from major firms like Apple and Microsoft, alongside the U.S. jobs report and first-quarter economic growth data. This comes amidst ongoing concerns related to global trade that could affect market stability.

The S&P 500 index has seen modest recovery recently, cutting its previous losses but still down roughly 10% from February’s peak. Optimism has been partially driven by indications of a softer trade approach from the Trump administration.

Market sensitivity

Michael Mullaney of Boston Partners noted that stock market sensitivity remains high, responding rapidly to any shifts in tariff news. Recent easing of trade tensions, including a pause in major tariffs announced by Trump, has contributed to market gains, but uncertainty continues.

In the forthcoming week, about 180 S&P 500 companies, accounting for over 40% of the index’s value, will announce their quarterly performance. Early reports indicate strong earnings growth, though some firms have lowered profit forecasts, highlighting potential challenges ahead.