Disney, Apple and Qantas

Australian News

• Revised stage three tax cuts may boost sentiment in the housing market, reducing distressed sales and increasing demand for premium homes among higher income earners. LINK

• ASIC and APRA have issued warnings to life insurance companies in Australia regarding multiple premium increases for existing customers over several years. LINK

• Gen Z remains keen to work at the big four accounting firms, with EY, KPMG and Deloitte reporting significant surges in applications for graduate and vacation roles. LINK

• Australia's homebuilding pipeline is the weakest in over a decade, prompting calls for increased federal government funding for new subsidised housing. LINK

• Inflation in Australia is expected to have moderated to a two-year low of about 4.3%, potentially allowing the RBA to keep interest rates steady. LINK

• Record renewable energy generation led to a 24% drop in wholesale electricity prices in the fourth quarter of 2023-24. LINK

• The RBA reports that between $7 billion and $11 billion of the nation’s cash is being used in the shadow economy for illegal purposes, including tax avoidance and illicit drug purchases. LINK

• Australia's population surpassed 27 million, reaching this milestone 18 years earlier than predicted, with migration significantly contributing to this growth. LINK

Global News

• Red Sea shipping attacks may cause significant delays for Australian importers, leading to a potential shift towards air freight, particularly for retailers awaiting European shipments. LINK

• UN agency in Gaza faces a crisis as nine countries suspend funding due to alleged employee involvement in a Hamas attack on Israel, affecting vital aid operations. LINK

Company News

• Qantas hires McKinsey consultancy for a 12-week project to address flight delays and cancellations. LINK

• Apple delays the launch of its electric vehicle and scales back its self-driving features amid challenges transitioning from gadgets to automotive technology. LINK

• A Bureau of Meteorology scientist loses his job and fails to get reinstated after secretly working overseas while claiming to be working from home. LINK

• Disney paid $430 million in royalties to offshore related parties, increasing streaming prices by 28% in Australia. LINK

• Microsoft announces the elimination of 1,900 jobs in its video game division. LINK

• BHP potentially faces more than the ordered US$9.7 billion in "moral damages" for the 2015 Fundão tailings dam collapse in Brazil. LINK

• Industrial action between DP World and the Maritime Union of Australia leads to supply chain disruptions, with over 50,000 containers stranded and estimated daily costs of $84 million. LINK

• US regulators approve an inspection process for Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes, potentially allowing them to fly again. LINK

Other Picks

• AlphaTauri F1 Team Renaming: Red Bull's Formula 1 junior team, AlphaTauri, rebrands to Visa Cash App RB F1, facing mockery and criticism for its new name, regarded as one of the worst in F1 history. LINK

• Trump's Legal Defeat: Donald Trump suffers a legal defeat with a Manhattan jury ordering him to pay US$83.3 million to journalist E. Jean Carroll, who accused him of tarnishing her reputation by denying rape allegations. LINK

   

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