|

Australian stocks hit highest since December 2007

  • Australian stocks are trading at 12-year highs this Monday morning. 
  • Australian PM Scott Morrison’s surprise miracle win and tax cut pledge is likely pushing stocks higher. 

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s surprise victory in weekend election is boding well for the domestic stock market. 

The S&P/ASX 200 is currently trading at 6,474, the highest level since December 2007, representing 2% gains on the day.

Morrison’s Liberal-National coalition will secure 77 seats in the 151-member lower house, the Australian broadcasting Corp. projected earlier today. 

Prime Minister’s victory is being called the biggest come-from-behind win in a generation. After all, the coalition was trailing in most opinion polls. 

The election results indicate the voters rejected opposition’s pledge to redistribute wealth and boost the minimum wage growth and have accepted Morrison’s pitch for economic stability. Just hours after claiming victory, the Prime Minister pledged to deliver tax relief, which could boost consumer spending and help shore up the economy. 

While Australia stocks are solidly bid, other regional indices are also flashing green. Japan’s Nikkei is currently up 0.60% on the day and South Korea’s Kospi is flashing 1% gains. The futures on the S&P 500 are also up 0.40%. 

Author

Omkar Godbole

Omkar Godbole

FXStreet Contributor

Omkar Godbole, editor and analyst, joined FXStreet after four years as a research analyst at several Indian brokerage companies.

More from Omkar Godbole
Share:

Editor's Picks

EUR/USD struggles near 1.1850, with all eyes on US CPI data

EUR/USD holds losses while keeping its range near 1.1850 in European trading on Friday. A broadly cautious market environment paired with a steady US Dollar undermines the pair ahead of the critical US CPI data. Meanwhile, the Eurozone Q4 GDP second estimate has little to no impact on the Euro. 

GBP/USD recovers above 1.3600, awaits US CPI for fresh impetus

GBP/USD recovers some ground above 1.3600 in the European session on Friday, though it lacks bullish conviction. The US Dollar remains supported amid a softer risk tone and ahead of the US consumer inflation figures due later in the NA session on Friday. 

Gold remains below $5,000 as US inflation report looms

Gold retreats from the vicinity of the $5,000 psychological mark, though sticks to its modest intraday gains in the European session. Traders now look forward to the release of the US consumer inflation figures for more cues about the Fed policy path. The outlook will play a key role in influencing the near-term US Dollar price dynamics and provide some meaningful impetus to the non-yielding bullion.

US CPI data set to show modest inflation cooling as markets price in a more hawkish Fed

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics will publish January’s Consumer Price Index data on Friday, delayed by the brief and partial United States government shutdown. The report is expected to show that inflationary pressures eased modestly but also remained above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target.

The weekender: When software turns the blade on itself

Autonomous AI does not just threaten trucking companies and call centers. It challenges the cognitive toll booths that legacy software has charged for decades. This is not a forecast. No one truly knows the end state of AI.

Solana Price Forecast: Mixed market sentiment caps recovery

Solana (SOL) is trading at $79 as of Friday, following a correction of over 9% so far this week. On-chain and derivatives data indicates mixed sentiment among traders, further limiting the chances of a price recovery.