Grounded: Qantas may return to stand-downs

Published

4 years ago

July 22, 2021

Qantas may have to stand down airline staff due to lockdowns happening across Australia

Flight cancellation data released on Wednesday showed more than 9000 flights were cancelled in July, majority of them were flights with Qantas and Jetstar.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce sent an email to staff detailing the effects of the current lockdown hitting Sydney and Melboure.

Joyce said their total flying had dropped below 40 per cent of pre-Covid capacity and an extension to the lockdowns could be problematic for the group.

In the email written to staff he said the company isn’t at the point of requiring stand-downs in domestic operations at this stage.

“But to be honest, we can’t rule it out if multiple states keep their borders closed for extended periods.”

“Hopefully this scenario doesn’t come to pass. But we’ve always been upfront through this crisis and it’s important for you to know the challenges we’re facing,” said Mr Joyce.

Australia’s largest cities in lockdown so thousands of flights grounded

“NSW is a key part of the Qantas and Jetstar network, so that lockdown has already seen our total domestic flying fall from 90 per cent of pre-COVID levels to around 60 per cent,” he wrote.

“When you add in the Victorian and now South Australian lockdowns, our total flying drops below 40 per cent.”

Qantas wants the government to chip in

He said if that happened he expected the government would provide a basic level of income support.. yet another call out for the JobKeeper payment to return.

Mr Joyce reassured workers that this situation will only be temporary, because “unlike last winter there’s now a Covid vaccine rolling out”.

The message came as rival Rex announced the temporary suspension of its Boeing 737 operations.

At the height of the Covid crisis last year, Qantas had more than 20,000 employees stood down.

About 7500 people who usually work in the airline’s international business remain stood down.

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Stocks rally ahead of Thanksgiving as markets log four days of gains

Markets gain momentum ahead of Thanksgiving, with the Dow up 388 points and Oracle rising 4% amid investor optimism.

Published

3 weeks ago

November 27, 2025

Harvey Vargas

Markets gain momentum ahead of Thanksgiving, with the Dow up 388 points and Oracle rising 4% amid investor optimism.

Markets are moving into the Thanksgiving break with strong momentum, as stocks notch four straight days of gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 388 points, while the S&P 500 added 0.9%, pushing both indexes toward their best week since June.

Oracle led major movers, rising more than 4% after Deutsche Bank reaffirmed its bullish outlook on the tech giant. Broad investor optimism continues building across sectors as economic data softens and earnings remain resilient.

All eyes are now on the Federal Reserve and what potential shifts in interest-rate policy may mean for the markets. U.S. markets will close Thursday for the Thanksgiving holiday and reopen Friday for a shortened trading session.

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#Markets #Stocks #Thanksgiving #DowJones #SP500 #Oracle #FederalReserve #FinanceNews

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Dow surges 500 points amid rate cut optimism

Dow jumps 569 points on fresh hopes for December rate cut and AI market optimism

Published

3 weeks ago

November 26, 2025

Harvey Vargas

Dow jumps 569 points on fresh hopes for December rate cut and AI market optimism

In Short:
– Dow Jones rose 569 points, reflecting optimism for a Federal Reserve interest rate cut.
– Alphabet’s stock increased as Meta may invest in AI chips, but Nvidia’s declined amid market concerns.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 569 points or 1.2% on Tuesday, reflecting investor optimism for an upcoming Federal Reserve interest rate cut. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite also posted gains, up 0.8% and 0.4% respectively. This represented a recovery from earlier losses, where the S&P 500 briefly fell by 0.7%.

Markets anticipate an 85% chance of a quarter-point rate cut in December, driven by comments from New York Fed President John Williams, who indicated the possibility of lower rates soon. Investor sentiment strengthened following reports that Kevin Hassett may be appointed as the next Fed chair, potentially resulting in a more lenient monetary policy.

Tech Sector

Alphabet saw its stock rise by over 1% after reports indicated that Meta Platforms might invest in its AI chips. This could signal increased demand for AI technology, benefiting the sector overall. However, Nvidia’s stock fell more than 3%, suggesting concerns about its dominance in the AI chip market.

Investors are also wary of the valuation of tech stocks. Despite recent gains, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq remain down over 1% and 3%, respectively, for November, while the Dow has lost more than 1% this month. The broader market’s performance indicates ongoing scrutiny regarding tech valuations amid changing economic expectations.

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Gold prices surge as Central Banks buy big, but risks grow ahead

Gold prices surge as central banks increase demand; risks include a stronger dollar and rising interest rates.

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3 weeks ago

November 25, 2025

Harvey Vargas

Gold prices surge as central banks increase demand; risks include a stronger dollar and rising interest rates.

Gold prices are climbing fast as central banks ramp up buying, pushing demand to its highest levels in years. The metal’s reputation as a safe haven is strengthening, especially amid rising geopolitical tensions and global financial uncertainty.

But experts warn the shine could fade. A stronger US dollar and the possibility of rising interest rates may weigh on momentum, making investors question how long the rally can last.

Dr Steven Enticott from CIA Tax breaks down the drivers behind gold’s surge—from ETF inflows to physical bar demand—and what could send the price sharply higher… or lower.

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#gold #markets #centralbanks #economy #finance #investing #interestRates #usdollar