It's Tuesday, the fifteenth of April twenty twenty five. Welcome to the Fast five Business News by Fear and Greed, where we give you the top five business stories you need to know and just five minutes. I'm Michael Thompson and good morning.

It's Tuesday, the fifteenth of April twenty twenty five. Welcome to the Fast five Business News by Fear and Greed, where we give you the top five business stories you need to know and just five minutes. I'm Michael Thompson and good morning.

Sean Ale, Good morning Michael Shawn.

Sean Ale, Good morning Michael Shawn.

Five stories, five minutes. Let's go a story. Number one. Northern Star is set to buy out small Arrival to Gray Mining in a five billion dollar deal, creating a top twenty company on the ASX and continuing the consolidation in the gold sector.

Five stories, five minutes. Let's go a story. Number one. Northern Star is set to buy out small Arrival to Gray Mining in a five billion dollar deal, creating a top twenty company on the ASX and continuing the consolidation in the gold sector.

Degray's largest shareholder, gold Road Resources, has backed the deal, meaning Northern Star should be able to buy the Wa based miner with flagship operations in the Pilbra. Degray is developing the Hemi Mine Hmi Mind and the price is the highest ever for a potential gold mine. The Hemi project is one of the country's best undeveloped gold projects. The mine's thought to hold at least eleven million ounces of gold. Seventy five percent of Degray's shareholders need to vote for the deal. Now. Gold Road owns seventeen percent of Degray, so that is a big tick of approval. It comes amid gold prices hitting record levels. Some investment banks reckon we'll get to four thousand US dolls announced. It's about thirty two hundred US announced, which is about fifty two hundred Ossie announce up twenty five percent this year. Another deal on the go with South African based gold fields bidding for gold roads. The majority shareholder were just all the major shareholder we're just talking about. There's also a proposed tie up between Spartan Resources and Romelias Resources.

Degray's largest shareholder, gold Road Resources, has backed the deal, meaning Northern Star should be able to buy the Wa based miner with flagship operations in the Pilbra. Degray is developing the Hemi Mine Hmi Mind and the price is the highest ever for a potential gold mine. The Hemi project is one of the country's best undeveloped gold projects. The mine's thought to hold at least eleven million ounces of gold. Seventy five percent of Degray's shareholders need to vote for the deal. Now. Gold Road owns seventeen percent of Degray, so that is a big tick of approval. It comes amid gold prices hitting record levels. Some investment banks reckon we'll get to four thousand US dolls announced. It's about thirty two hundred US announced, which is about fifty two hundred Ossie announce up twenty five percent this year. Another deal on the go with South African based gold fields bidding for gold roads. The majority shareholder were just all the major shareholder we're just talking about. There's also a proposed tie up between Spartan Resources and Romelias Resources.

A lot of companies, a lot of deals going on. It's been a great year for gold miners Shaw. Nine of the top ten stocks on the ASX two hundred this year have been gold miners.

A lot of companies, a lot of deals going on. It's been a great year for gold miners Shaw. Nine of the top ten stocks on the ASX two hundred this year have been gold miners.

Yes. Total uncertainty and fear groupping financial markets great for local gold companies. Central banks have been, in the words of the World Gold Council, hoovering up gold at an eye watering pace. In fact, one thousand tons in each of the last three calendar years. Last year was a record production years, including mind production and recycled gold came in about five thousand tons. One area of gold not doing so well, Michael Jewelry general sumption has actually dropped eleven percent, though the value is higher. Australia is about the third largest producer of gold in the world.

Yes. Total uncertainty and fear groupping financial markets great for local gold companies. Central banks have been, in the words of the World Gold Council, hoovering up gold at an eye watering pace. In fact, one thousand tons in each of the last three calendar years. Last year was a record production years, including mind production and recycled gold came in about five thousand tons. One area of gold not doing so well, Michael Jewelry general sumption has actually dropped eleven percent, though the value is higher. Australia is about the third largest producer of gold in the world.

All right, moving on to story number two. Now, in a chaotic week last week on market Sean, how did the local market do yesterday?

All right, moving on to story number two. Now, in a chaotic week last week on market Sean, how did the local market do yesterday?

It's actually very good for the market now. It rose one point three percent to finish at seven hundred and forty nine points. What's that really mean. Well, the tech stocks bounced back on the you know that followed a strong weekend on Wall Street for the tech stocks. The big miners did well, as did healthcare and property stocks. The big banks did well, so we ended up with the big banks and the big miners both doing well. If you have the banks and miners in Australia doing well, then you're going to have a market that does well. A lot of that was on the back of Donald Trump winding back some of the tariffs and electronic goods from China that prompted confidence in the market. I'll just be interesting to see how the next few days go.

It's actually very good for the market now. It rose one point three percent to finish at seven hundred and forty nine points. What's that really mean. Well, the tech stocks bounced back on the you know that followed a strong weekend on Wall Street for the tech stocks. The big miners did well, as did healthcare and property stocks. The big banks did well, so we ended up with the big banks and the big miners both doing well. If you have the banks and miners in Australia doing well, then you're going to have a market that does well. A lot of that was on the back of Donald Trump winding back some of the tariffs and electronic goods from China that prompted confidence in the market. I'll just be interesting to see how the next few days go.

And story number three show on the Aussie dollar is on the rise, at least against the green back.

And story number three show on the Aussie dollar is on the rise, at least against the green back.

It's back up to sixty three US since pretty much a story about US dollar weakness, which against a basket of trading currencies is at a three year low. The greenback is actually down nearly ten percent against that basket since Donald Trump took over. The Aussie against the eurodoy remains at multi year lows. It's depreciated about eight percent this year. Not good if you're going to Europe for holidays at some point this year. Better if you're heading the UK for that matter. Of the pounds trading round a ten year high against the Aussie dollar. Against the end, the Aussie is actually relatively strong.

It's back up to sixty three US since pretty much a story about US dollar weakness, which against a basket of trading currencies is at a three year low. The greenback is actually down nearly ten percent against that basket since Donald Trump took over. The Aussie against the eurodoy remains at multi year lows. It's depreciated about eight percent this year. Not good if you're going to Europe for holidays at some point this year. Better if you're heading the UK for that matter. Of the pounds trading round a ten year high against the Aussie dollar. Against the end, the Aussie is actually relatively strong.

Story number four in politics now sean oppositionally that to Peter Dutton introduced his son Harry into the campaign yesterday with a twenty year old saying that he and his sister are struggling to say for a house.

Story number four in politics now sean oppositionally that to Peter Dutton introduced his son Harry into the campaign yesterday with a twenty year old saying that he and his sister are struggling to say for a house.

Dutton was then asked whether he was going to help his kids because he does have a multimillion dollar home portfolio. He pretty much ignored it the question. But I thought the Bank of Mum and Dad was actually a thing nowadays, maybe not. The color Listen is pushing hard. It's pledged to make mortgage payments for first home buyers tax deductible. Peter Dutton also said migration cuts would help the housing market, Prome Minister Anthony Albanez. He was on hustings of course as well. He was pushing his housing policy which is a five percent deposit for first homeowners. He spent time packing meals at are not for profit and tired to explain that very awkward no kiss between him and Tenure plub sick over the weekend at the Labour Party launch in Perth.

Dutton was then asked whether he was going to help his kids because he does have a multimillion dollar home portfolio. He pretty much ignored it the question. But I thought the Bank of Mum and Dad was actually a thing nowadays, maybe not. The color Listen is pushing hard. It's pledged to make mortgage payments for first home buyers tax deductible. Peter Dutton also said migration cuts would help the housing market, Prome Minister Anthony Albanez. He was on hustings of course as well. He was pushing his housing policy which is a five percent deposit for first homeowners. He spent time packing meals at are not for profit and tired to explain that very awkward no kiss between him and Tenure plub sick over the weekend at the Labour Party launch in Perth.

Very uncomfortable. Last one story number five. Six of the top seven ranked industries for business closures in the last twelve months SEAN are dependent on household discretionary spending.

Very uncomfortable. Last one story number five. Six of the top seven ranked industries for business closures in the last twelve months SEAN are dependent on household discretionary spending.

Yes, this is where the cost of living crisis hits the business road at least. Industries with the highest closure rates are food and beverage and hospitality, administrative and support services, and arts and recreation. All are facing a business closure rate of more than six percent. Food and beverage is above nine percent, a record level according to Credit or Watch. These rates are at or above pre COVID levels, suggesting the full impact of COVID now has pretty much washed through the economy. Insolvencies remain elevated well they did in March, broadly unchanged on but seventeen percent higher than twelve months earlier as a share of total company registrations. That takes account for the rise and the number of companies insolvencies in our well above pre COVID rates.

Yes, this is where the cost of living crisis hits the business road at least. Industries with the highest closure rates are food and beverage and hospitality, administrative and support services, and arts and recreation. All are facing a business closure rate of more than six percent. Food and beverage is above nine percent, a record level according to Credit or Watch. These rates are at or above pre COVID levels, suggesting the full impact of COVID now has pretty much washed through the economy. Insolvencies remain elevated well they did in March, broadly unchanged on but seventeen percent higher than twelve months earlier as a share of total company registrations. That takes account for the rise and the number of companies insolvencies in our well above pre COVID rates.

All right, there we go, the top five business stories in five minutes. Thank you Sean, Thank you Michael. It is Tuesday, the fifteenth of April twenty twenty five. Remember to hit follow on the podcast, and if five minutes isn't enough, you can find our longer daily show called Fear and Greed wherever you listen to podcasts, and head along to Fearangreed dot com dot au as well, and sign up for our free daily newsletter everything you need to know for a successful day, landing in your inbox by six am. I'm Michael Thompson and that was the fast by Business News by Fear and Greed. Had a great day,

All right, there we go, the top five business stories in five minutes. Thank you Sean, Thank you Michael. It is Tuesday, the fifteenth of April twenty twenty five. Remember to hit follow on the podcast, and if five minutes isn't enough, you can find our longer daily show called Fear and Greed wherever you listen to podcasts, and head along to Fearangreed dot com dot au as well, and sign up for our free daily newsletter everything you need to know for a successful day, landing in your inbox by six am. I'm Michael Thompson and that was the fast by Business News by Fear and Greed. Had a great day,