Yahoo Finance ASX to rise; workplace culture, climate change in focus
Good morning.
Here's your Yahoo Finance Friday morning wrap:
ASX: The Australian share market is set to rise after Wall Street closed up in the green after tech stocks like Facebook and Amazon jumped after positive earning results.
Wall Street: The S&P 500 hit a new record high, up 2.75 per cent, while the NASDAQ rose by 0.22 per cent and the Dow Jones rose 0.71 per cent. This year has been a very good one for Wall Street so far; the S&P 500 is now up 12 per cent in 2021, while NASDAQ is up 9 per cent.
Workplace culture reform: The national push to change toxic workplace culture isn't going anywhere, with Brittany Higgins meeting with Prime Minister Scott Morrison today, along with Labor counterpart Anthony Albanese. More here.
Green energy: Australia's governments and industries can build a more reliable and cleaner electricity system – if we act now, according to a new paper released by the Energy Security Board.
"The rapid spread of large-scale wind and solar, along with rooftop PV, across Australia means our energy system is experiencing the fastest and most substantial change in the world," ESB chair Dr Kerry Schott said. Here's more on this.
The report comes as Australian boardroom executives list climate change as a key challenge that the Federal Government needs to address. That's according to the Australian Institute of Company Directors' latest sentiment survey.
Social media giants: Google, Facebook and Twitter will front a parliamentary inquiry today, which will scrutinise the platforms as hosts of extremist propaganda that could facilitate real harm. Here's what the inquiry will look at.
Budget priority: We already know what Treasurer Josh Frydenberg will make a focus of his upcoming May Federal Budget, but new analysis is showing that Australia could be up $210 billion better off if we crank up the digital economy.
"People want easier, more convenient ways of doing business, so becoming a leading digital economy is win-win," said Tim Reed, president of the Business Council of Australia, which commissioned the report.
100 days of Biden: The 'new' US President is wrapping up his first 100 days in the White House. Here's how the stock market feels about him, compared to previous US Presidents.
Have a great day.
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