Tagged: australia

January 21, 2026 @ 5:03 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Alpaca explained in a blog post that in today’s economic landscape, many young Australians face significant hurdles in achieving financial stability. With fewer than half able to consistently set aside savings for the long haul, challenges like entering the property market and securing retirement persist,… Read More

January 15, 2026 @ 12:25 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Zodia Custody has announced its expansion into supporting AUDM, marking it as the first global custodian to offer secure storage for Australia’s inaugural licensed stablecoin. This move, revealed on January 8, 2026, in Sydney, underscores the growing integration of regulated stablecoins into mainstream finance. Zodia… Read More

January 10, 2026 @ 7:22 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

As Australia navigates a post-pandemic recovery marked by easing inflation and monetary policy shifts, recent reports from the Commonwealth Bank highlight persistent challenges and signs of stability. Young Australians grapple with housing affordability, local shares show restraint amid global uncertainties, and the world economy demonstrates… Read More

January 4, 2026 @ 2:28 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

As the world steps into 2026, the landscape of digital payments continues to evolve, driven by technological advancements, regulatory shifts, and changes in consumer behavior. From central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) gaining new features to concerns over cybersecurity and cash accessibility, several trends are poised… Read More

December 23, 2025 @ 9:42 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Australians really splashed out during this past Black Friday, with consumer spending reportedly reaching $23.8 billion – which is 19.5 per cent higher than a typical fortnight. The latest figures come from CommBank iQ, which combines data from one of Australia’s largest banks with over… Read More

December 15, 2025 @ 8:33 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Australian fintech ecosystem has remained broadly stable during this year, according to an extensive update from KPMG, which also noted that with 801 independent Australian owned fintech companies, “marking a slight 2% decline year-on-year change from 2024.” The research report from KPMG also mentioned… Read More

December 9, 2025 @ 11:02 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Australia’s labor market remains fairly resilient, with wages now said to be ticking higher and job growth steady, according to Commonwealth Bank’s Wage & Labor Insights report. The report draws on de-identified salary flows from about 400,000 CBA accounts to offer an early snapshot of… Read More

December 9, 2025 @ 10:20 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

If Australians redirected around 10% of overall household spending from big businesses to small businesses, it could potentially mean $76 billion more in the hands of small retailers according to the latest analysis by small business platform Xero. This new figure highlights the seemingly immense… Read More

December 8, 2025 @ 10:04 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Private capital markets in the APAC region will enter 2026 on firmer footing, but their recovery remains uneven. PitchBook’s APAC Private Capital Outlook looks at how a softer rate environment, easing liquidity constraints, and the rise of domestic capital are now said to be “reshaping… Read More

December 8, 2025 @ 6:02 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Westpac data revealed customers are now spending approximately $6.7 billion annually on subscriptions. And according to Westpac research three in ten (31%) Australians admit that they are actually wasting money on seemingly duplicate or mostly unused services. In a so-called Australian banking first, Westpac clients… Read More

November 23, 2025 @ 8:08 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Qantas Business Rewards members doing business overseas now have access to Yield, an investment tool powered by financial and payments platform Airwallex. Yield joins a suite of Qantas Business Money products, offering members with a savings option for their AUD as well as USD account… Read More

November 19, 2025 @ 2:00 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Over half of small businesses (58%) say Black Friday has overtaken Boxing Day as Australia’s biggest sales or revenue-generating event, but significantly fewer are participating this year, due to affordability concerns in an increasigly tough economic environment. This, according to research from global small business… Read More

November 16, 2025 @ 6:21 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Younger consumers in Australia, particularly Gen Z, are now said to be leading the surge in first home buying intentions as the overall optimism grows among young consumers. As reported by Westpac, around 35% of Gen Z’s now intend  to acquire a first home in… Read More

November 13, 2025 @ 5:25 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Global small business platform, Xero, released its latest Small Business Insights (XSBI) update, indicating that small business sales and revenue surged around 5.5% during the past September quarter – which is said to be the strongest quarterly result in the last 2 years. The recent… Read More

November 9, 2025 @ 1:01 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Changes to interest rates may potentially have less of an impact on household spending than previously thought or forecasted, according to an update from Australia’s Commbank, which also noted that this means the reserve bank might have to lift or cut rates by more in… Read More

October 29, 2025 @ 8:59 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Westpac recently noted that it is now predicting “record-breaking” consumer spending with online retailers this upcoming Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales season, potentially topping the $17.7 billion spent in the past year, after consistent month-on-month transaction increases and consistent with historical seasonal spikes. Research… Read More

October 24, 2025 @ 1:40 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Younger investors residing in Australia are said to now be increasingly allocating a greater portion of their existing investments to high-yield cash accounts amid rising market volatility. Between 2023 and 2025, investor allocations to term deposits and high-yield savings rose from 9 per cent to… Read More

October 14, 2025 @ 10:32 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Digital assets firm OKX noted that buying crypto shouldn’t be too challenging for consumers who prefer to use the more typical payment methods they have already been trusting for completing everyday purchases. That’s why OKX Australia says it is supporting transactions with Apple Pay and… Read More

October 8, 2025 @ 9:25 pm By JD Alois  |  

Gemini (NASDAQ:GEMI)has expanded its platform to Australia, according to a note from the company. Gemini has registered with AUSTRAC and plans banking integrations to make trading crypto easier for Australians. Gemini, founded by Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, has recently become a publicly traded company in… Read More

September 26, 2025 @ 4:47 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In a move against the rise of cyber fraud, Australia’s Westpac Banking Corporation has unveiled innovative tools to fortify customer protections, coinciding with a notable downturn in scam-related losses. Announced on September 26, 2025, the bank’s initiatives underscore a sort of multi-pronged strategy to outpace… Read More