In Short:
– Australia’s unemployment rate rose to 4.5% in September, the highest since November 2021.
– Economists note a cooling labour market, with fewer job ads and increased participation rate amid rising living costs.

Australia’s unemployment rate increased to 4.5 per cent in September, up from 4.3 per cent in August.It marks the highest seasonally adjusted unemployment rate since November 2021.

Economists suggest that the Reserve Bank should consider another interest rate cut next month. BetaShares chief economist David Bassanese noted a slowdown in employment demand as the labour market struggles to accommodate job seekers.

The number of officially unemployed rose by 33,900 in September, while the employment count increased by 14,900. The labour force expanded by 48,800 people, resulting in a participation rate rise of 0.1 percentage points to 67 per cent, returning to July levels.

In trend terms, the unemployment rate remained steady at 4.3 per cent.

Labour Market

BDO chief economist Anders Magnusson stated that while the unemployment rate has increased, the labour market is cooling, not collapsing.

He pointed out that the 14,900 jobs added in September were slightly below the average for the past year.

A growing participation rate indicates that rising living costs are prompting more individuals to seek employment. Magnusson said the release confirms a gradual cooling of the labour market that keeps the Reserve Bank on track without necessitating immediate action.

He added that hiring activity is slowing, signalled by a 3.3 per cent drop in job advertisements in September, the largest monthly decrease since February 2024.

Despite this, he does not foresee a rate cut in November.

In Short:
– Stocks rose on Monday after Trump expressed optimism about trade relations with China.
– The Dow Jones gained 621 points, with significant increases in tech stocks and broad market recovery.

Stocks gained ground on Monday, recovering from Friday’s decline after President Donald Trump expressed optimism regarding trade relations with China, stating they “will all be fine.”The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 621 points, approximately 70% of its previous loss. The S&P 500 experienced a 1.6% increase, nearing a 60% recovery of its earlier drop. The Nasdaq Composite increased by 2.3%, bolstered by rebounds in technology stocks.

Oracle’s stock surged over 5%, with AMD and Nvidia seeing 1% and 3% increases, respectively. Broadcom’s stock jumped 10% following the announcement of a partnership with OpenAI.

Trump’s comments hinted that he might not impose a significant increase in tariffs on China, which had previously caused market turmoil. Vice President JD Vance similarly indicated a willingness to negotiate with China, while also asserting that the U.S. holds advantages in potential trade discussions.

Broader Recovery

Monday’s trading saw a positive shift with four out of five S&P 500 stocks rising, indicating widespread recovery. Small-cap stocks also made gains, with the Russell 2000 rising over 2.5%.

Market concerns persist, however, with a government shutdown continuing and a major payroll deadline approaching on October 15. Earnings reports from major financial institutions, including Citigroup and JPMorgan Chase, are expected this week, potentially impacting market sentiment.

In Short:
– Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced a 40% tax on retirement balances over $10 million, aiding low-income earners.
– The reform improves the Low Income Superannuation Tax Offset, helping 1.3 million Australians with higher annual payments.

Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced a significant overhaul of the government’s superannuation tax proposal.The new plan introduces a 40 percent tax rate on retirement balances exceeding $10 million while increasing support for low-income earners.

The announcement comes after months of political and industry pressure and represents a major shift from the original policy.

It addresses prior criticisms related to indexation and taxation of unrealised capital gains.

Under the revised policy, balances between $3 million and $10 million will face a 30 percent concessional tax rate.

Both thresholds will now be indexed to inflation to prevent bracket creep affecting middle-income Australians.

The government has also removed taxes on unrealised capital gains, with changes applying solely to realised earnings from 2026.

“This has been a contentious policy,” Chalmers stated, indicating that it affects less than 0.5 percent of Australians, with about 80,000 anticipated to have over $3 million in superannuation next year.

Key Benefits

The reform package significantly improves the Low Income Superannuation Tax Offset (LISTO).

Annual payments will rise from $500 to $810, with an increased eligibility threshold from $37,000 to $45,000 by 2027.

This adjustment will assist approximately 1.3 million Australians, mainly benefiting women.

Eligible workers could gain around $15,000 in retirement, increasing LISTO eligibility to 3.1 million Australians.

The changes could generate about $1.6 billion in net revenue by 2028-29, a decrease from the original $2.5 billion projection due to enhanced LISTO benefits and extended implementation.