Australia Breaking News

Westpac now forecasts a “hawkish hold” from the RBA in August, saying softer‑than‑expected Q2 inflation has broken lower than both its own and the central bank’s projections.

Perpetual Limited (ASX:PPT) reported Q4 FY26 total AUM of A$224.4 billion, up 2.3% over the quarter, as market gains offset net outflows across its boutiques and Corporate Trust and Wealth Management businesses each recorded growth in Funds Under Administration.

Mineral Resources Limited (ASX:MIN) said it closed FY26 with guidance achieved or exceeded across all business segments, reporting record annual volumes of 341Mt for Mining Services, 29.5Mt of iron ore and 559k dmt of lithium spodumene concentrate (SC6 equivalent).

Craig Beattie, CFO of commerical property firm HongKong Land, discusses the company's 11% rise in underlying profit for the first six months of the year, and discusses its outlook and strategy for growth. He speaks exclusively with Haidi Stroud Watts on "Bloomberg: The Asia Trade".

Atlas Arteria (ASX:ALX) said proportionate toll revenue for the three months to 30 June 2026 was broadly in line with the prior corresponding period, down 0.3% excluding foreign exchange impacts but 8.1% lower on a reported basis due to FX movements.

Sanjeev Rana, head of research at CLSA Securities Korea, believes Hynix's earnings miss was the result of a weak product mix in the second quarter, and he expects "sequential earnings improvement." Meanwhile, KB Financial Group Global Investment Strategist Peter Kim shares his takes on the underlying trends driving the selloff in AI stocks.

Baby Bunting Group (ASX:BBN) said Chief Financial Officer Darin Hoekman will step down after more than 12 years with the group, with the change framed as a planned transition as its multi‑year growth strategy advances.

Liontown (ASX:LTR) booked A$137 million of net cash flow in the June quarter, taking its cash balance to A$561 million as spodumene production and sales at Kathleen Valley supported strong operating cash generation.

CSL Limited (ASX:CSL) will conduct clinical trials to confirm the efficacy and safety of immunoglobulin produced using its Horizon 2 next‑generation plasma manufacturing process, which it describes as yield‑enhancing technology.

Annual CPI inflation in Australia slowed to 3.8% in the 12 months to June 2026, down from 4.0% in the year to May, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Woodside Energy (ASX:WDS) lifted second‑quarter 2026 operating revenue to US$4,185 million and narrowed full‑year production guidance to 174–185 MMboe as Sangomar delivered near‑nameplate output and major LNG projects advanced on budget and schedule.

As prediction market giants like Kalshi and Polymarket begin offering perpetual futures trading with CFTC approval, other investment platforms are looking to expand their offerings. CME Group is launching single-stock futures, allowing investors to hedge or speculate on more than 50 of the largest US companies. The contracts, offering leverage without the complexity of options, will be cash-settled on the closing price of the stocks they're tied to. FIA CEO Walt Lukken joins Bloomberg Businessweek Daily to discuss the launch of these investment products, why he says prediction market "disruption" is good for building out best regulatory practices for the industry, and more. Lukken speaks with Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec.