Swati Pandey

Australian retail sales accelerated in October, marking its third straight month of gains as consumers turn more confident about their finances in anticipation the next move in interest rates is likely to be a cut.

Australia widened the scope of its anti-money laundering regulation to include real-estate agents and precious stone dealers following years of warnings over the use of illicit cash in these high-risk sectors.

Australia’s run of hiring gains slowed in October, while the unemployment rate held steady, underscoring the resilience of the labor market to elevated interest rates.

Australia’s consumer confidence rose in November, building on last month’s gains as households are no longer concerned about the risk of further interest rate increases, though Donald Trump’s election victory caused some uneasiness.

Australia’s central bank is poised to keep interest rates at a 13-year high, marking a year of unchanged policy as it grapples with a slow pace of disinflation and mounting global risks capped by a tight US election.

Australia’s household spending edged down in September, suggesting high interest rates and stubbornly strong inflation are forcing consumers to hunker down.

Australian retail sales came in weaker than expected in September, suggesting that high interest rates and stubbornly strong inflation are continuing to squeeze households.

Australia’s core inflation remained elevated last quarter, reinforcing the Reserve Bank’s view that price pressures will take time to dissipate and that monetary policy needs to stay restrictive for the time being.

Australia’s central bank Governor Michele Bullock said it will take “another year or two” before inflation is sustainably back within the 2-3% target, in a signal policy is likely to remain restrictive for some time yet.

Thailand’s central bank chief Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput signaled policymakers won’t be rushing to follow up on last week’s interest-rate cut and defended the current inflation target amid government calls to ease policy further and lift the price goal.