Yahoo Finance ASX flat, property slump and 6 other things to start your day
ASX: The local share market is expected to kick off the day flat after US stocks edged higher overnight.
Rate rises: The Reserve Bank (RBA) is expected to reveal its thinking behind this month’s 0.25 per cent interest rate hike and whether the board toyed with the idea of going higher.
The RBA is due to release the minutes from its November board meeting today.
Home: Aussie property prices are continuing to slump but regional home prices have held up so far, according to new research from PropTrack.
Aussies who made a tree change will still be cheering, with regional home prices having lifted 6.49 per cent over the past 12 months, compared to the 2.08 per cent decline across the capital cities.
Babies: Aussie businesses have been encouraged by the Federal Government to equally fund paid parental leave for men and women so families can maximise time with their kids.
Of all employer-led schemes, 50 per cent of women had access, compared with 36 per cent of men, official data found.
The Government has extended government-funded paid parental leave to 26 weeks for both parents to share - but that won’t come into effect until July 2026.
‘Cold war’: US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed Taiwan and North Korea in a three-hour meeting aimed at preventing strained US-China ties from becoming a new cold war.
G20 summit: Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appeared ready to mend the fractured relationship with China as he prepared for his own meeting with his Chinese counterpart.
Albanese will meet Xi on the sidelines of the G20 summit this afternoon. This will be the first time since 2016 an Australian and Chinese leader have had a one-on-one meeting.
Climate failure: Australia remains at the back of the pack on climate protection thanks to the new Government’s ongoing support for fossil fuels.
The Government's 2030 emissions target and its backing for coal and gas, left Australia languishing in 55th spot on the Climate Change Performance Index.
Old island: Researchers have identified when K’gari (Fraser Island) was formed and how its large land mass helped shape the Great Barrier Reef.
The study found K'gari formed between 0.7 and 1.2 million years ago and facilitated widespread coral reef formation.
Follow Yahoo Finance on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter, and subscribe to the free Fully Briefed daily newsletter.
