Money

Lockdowns throw travel plans into chaos | ticker VIEWS

Published

4 years ago

June 29, 2021

The domestic travel market in Australia has been recovering quite well in recent months, but is that all about to change?

Recent lockdowns in Australia are threatening the travel market as states close borders to one another.

A growing cluster in New South Wales has spread to other parts of the nation, with Queensland, Darwin and Perth now facing troubled times.

Four cities have been declared hot spots and are now in lockdown.

Other surrounding states such as Melbourne, Victoria have snapped the border shut to infected states in hopes to curb the spread.

But this recent uptick in cases in a nation that once prided itself on managing the virus, is bad news for the travel market. Airlines, hotels and destinations that rely on tourists to earn a dollar, are right now anxiously awaiting what governments next announcement.

Flights grounded, again

Hundreds of flights right around Australia have been cancelled as borders are snapped shut, meaning passengers either dump holiday plans or spend two weeks in quarantine or simply, cop a fine from police for crossing the border (that’s if they don’t have permits).

Airlines will now have to cop the financial losses with customers forced to cancel travel arrangements, further resulting in airline crews again being stood down.

Travel agents in overdrive

Travel agencies around Australia are now working overtime to rebook passengers and for some, assist them with cancellations.

Lauren McLean of Flight Centre Australia says during these times of uncertainty, it has never been more important to book through an agent.

That’s because travel agents have the power and ability to bargain with airlines and hotels on refunds and policies to best suit the customer, meaning they do the nitty-gritty.

“We are on the phones with airlines all day”

Money

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

Money

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.

Money

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.

Published

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