Afternoon Report | ASX rises 0.5pc as banks rally

Thursday 29 October 2026 Hot inflation figures point to a fifth rate rise this year on Tuesday. The federal government under pressure over spending Woolworths looks to be gaining in the supermarket wars, posting a solid jump in sales Star Entertainment hit with a $260m fine, raising questions about its viability The Israeli election result remains on a knife’s edge, with the two Arab parties in Israel set to hold the balance of power

Many Australians know they could benefit from financial advice, but never take the first step. Whether it's the cost, uncertainty about where to start, or the belief that advice is only for wealthy people, there are plenty of barriers. And putting it off could have significant consequences.

This is the Fear & Greed Afternoon Report - everything you need to know about what happened in the markets, economy and world of business today, in just a few minutes. Inflation hits ASX, rate rise looms

Wednesday 28 October 2026 AI giant Anthropic targets wealthy Australian investors after it files its prospectus in what could be the biggest IPO in history. Retailer David Jones under pressure after reportedly failing to meet one of its loan conditions Ten per cent of all deaths in Australia are now due to dementia Treasurer Jim Chalmers unveils more changes to capital gains tax rules The country’s sheep flock falls to its lowest level in a century

Australian business confidence has fallen to some of its lowest levels in decades, as higher interest rates, rising costs and economic uncertainty put pressure on businesses. But despite the challenges, some Australian companies are continuing to invest, innovate and expand overseas.