It's Monday, the twenty fourth of March 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 in just five minutes. I'm Michael Thompson and good morning Sean Aylmer. Good morning, Michael, Sean. Five big stories to race through in five minutes. Let's go. Story number one. The federal government will hand down a budget tomorrow night, with deficits expected for the foreseeable future, potentially a better economic outlook, and spending initiatives very likely to be aimed at winning an election.

It's Monday, the twenty fourth of March 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 in just five minutes. I'm Michael Thompson and good morning Sean Aylmer. Good morning, Michael, Sean. Five big stories to race through in five minutes. Let's go. Story number one. The federal government will hand down a budget tomorrow night, with deficits expected for the foreseeable future, potentially a better economic outlook, and spending initiatives very likely to be aimed at winning an election.

In fact, nightly do we get a budget by Sunday night, we could well have an election called. What that means is that the budget tomorrow night is definitely not going to include too many nasties. Many of the government spending initiatives have already been announced, such as the lwering of the out of pocket expenses for pharmaceuticals. Over the weekend, Prime Minister Anthony Alberizi said he'll extend the energy rebate instituted last year until the end of twenty twenty five to help with cost of living pressures so everyone gets seventy five bucks off their energy build each quarter.

In fact, nightly do we get a budget by Sunday night, we could well have an election called. What that means is that the budget tomorrow night is definitely not going to include too many nasties. Many of the government spending initiatives have already been announced, such as the lwering of the out of pocket expenses for pharmaceuticals. Over the weekend, Prime Minister Anthony Alberizi said he'll extend the energy rebate instituted last year until the end of twenty twenty five to help with cost of living pressures so everyone gets seventy five bucks off their energy build each quarter.

Shawn, we know about the hear a lot more obviously about the cost of living relief by the pharmaceutical and Energy bill promises. What else do we know at this stage? Though?

Shawn, we know about the hear a lot more obviously about the cost of living relief by the pharmaceutical and Energy bill promises. What else do we know at this stage? Though?

Economists think the budget deficit for this financial year or come in around twenty billion, maybe twenty five billion. It's a bit lower than the previous forecast. Treasury Jim Chalmers yesterday said the budget will outline a reduction in net overseas migration. There'll also be a refoecast of economic figures. Headline inflation later this year will be lower thanks to the energy we rebate. More important figure is underlying inflation that might be a touch higher.

Economists think the budget deficit for this financial year or come in around twenty billion, maybe twenty five billion. It's a bit lower than the previous forecast. Treasury Jim Chalmers yesterday said the budget will outline a reduction in net overseas migration. There'll also be a refoecast of economic figures. Headline inflation later this year will be lower thanks to the energy we rebate. More important figure is underlying inflation that might be a touch higher.

Politically, Sean, How does this play out as having a budget a good thing for the government ahead of an election?

Politically, Sean, How does this play out as having a budget a good thing for the government ahead of an election?

Probably not. Remember this budget wasn't supposed to happen. We're supposed to be in a week in about week three now of the election cycle. But excyclone Alfred had something to say about that. It also means that Opposition leader Peter Dutton gets a national audience with his budget reply speech on Thursday night. But given where we are in the electoral cycle, it probably won't make too much of a difference, Michael.

Probably not. Remember this budget wasn't supposed to happen. We're supposed to be in a week in about week three now of the election cycle. But excyclone Alfred had something to say about that. It also means that Opposition leader Peter Dutton gets a national audience with his budget reply speech on Thursday night. But given where we are in the electoral cycle, it probably won't make too much of a difference, Michael.

Okay under story number two now and sean the S and p ASX two hundred rebalance will take place today. It's when companies are put in and out of the AX fifty, ASEX one hundred and the ASEX two hundred, and that can make a big difference. Karn't it to share prices.

Okay under story number two now and sean the S and p ASX two hundred rebalance will take place today. It's when companies are put in and out of the AX fifty, ASEX one hundred and the ASEX two hundred, and that can make a big difference. Karn't it to share prices.

Yes, and to investors because passive investors often mirror indices, so they just want to hold stocks that are in one of those main categories of fifty one hundred to two hundred. The big one really is the top fifty. The two companies going in to the top fifty Promedicus on the back of an incredible performance. It's now the twenty fourth biggest company on the burs worth about twenty seven billion dollars. The other one Sigma Healthcare, on the back of the Chemist Warehouse takeover, now the seventeenth largest company. In fact, it's bigger than Coal's and just behind Woollies. Now the two meting out of the top fifty Minimum Resources and Ramsey Healthcare.

Yes, and to investors because passive investors often mirror indices, so they just want to hold stocks that are in one of those main categories of fifty one hundred to two hundred. The big one really is the top fifty. The two companies going in to the top fifty Promedicus on the back of an incredible performance. It's now the twenty fourth biggest company on the burs worth about twenty seven billion dollars. The other one Sigma Healthcare, on the back of the Chemist Warehouse takeover, now the seventeenth largest company. In fact, it's bigger than Coal's and just behind Woollies. Now the two meting out of the top fifty Minimum Resources and Ramsey Healthcare.

Story number three. Health Minister Mark Butler is seeking advice as to where the private health insurers are price gouging members after hitting top tier policy holders with premium increase of up to nine percent.

Story number three. Health Minister Mark Butler is seeking advice as to where the private health insurers are price gouging members after hitting top tier policy holders with premium increase of up to nine percent.

Major funds including Booper, Medibank, t CFNNIB have written to policy holders in the past Fortnite advertising them a premium high ex ranging from seven percent to nine point four percent on the Gold and Silver policies, as well above the three point seven percent industry average approved by Minister Butler. Last month, the finn Is reporting that while insurers are allowed to increase annual premiums more than the average because some policies rise more than others, Butler's asked the Health Department to advise him if insurers are price gouging customers. Is particularly relevant at the moment because the ALP has put healthcare at the center of its election campaign.

Major funds including Booper, Medibank, t CFNNIB have written to policy holders in the past Fortnite advertising them a premium high ex ranging from seven percent to nine point four percent on the Gold and Silver policies, as well above the three point seven percent industry average approved by Minister Butler. Last month, the finn Is reporting that while insurers are allowed to increase annual premiums more than the average because some policies rise more than others, Butler's asked the Health Department to advise him if insurers are price gouging customers. Is particularly relevant at the moment because the ALP has put healthcare at the center of its election campaign.

Story Number four. Australians are taking overseas trips in record numbers, with short term offshore travel hitting a new record.

Story Number four. Australians are taking overseas trips in record numbers, with short term offshore travel hitting a new record.

One point six million short term trips were recorded in January. That's eleven percent higher than a year earlier. It's also eleven percent higher than the pre COVID level of January twenty nineteen, the most comparable month. Now New Zealand's the most popular country accounting for about thirteen percent of travel than Indonesia I e. Balley and then Japan I suspect everyone went skiing with that exchange rate so positive for the Aussie dollar back in January. One cohort that still hasn't recovered from covid it is international students. In January eighty one thousand international students arrived, down two and a half percent from a year earlier, in ten percent lower than January twenty nineteen.

One point six million short term trips were recorded in January. That's eleven percent higher than a year earlier. It's also eleven percent higher than the pre COVID level of January twenty nineteen, the most comparable month. Now New Zealand's the most popular country accounting for about thirteen percent of travel than Indonesia I e. Balley and then Japan I suspect everyone went skiing with that exchange rate so positive for the Aussie dollar back in January. One cohort that still hasn't recovered from covid it is international students. In January eighty one thousand international students arrived, down two and a half percent from a year earlier, in ten percent lower than January twenty nineteen.

Last one story number five, a consortium led by private equity investors, has agreed to take a majority stake in the Boston Celtics basketball franchise. The staggering thing about this Sean, though, is the valuation six point one billion US dollars.

Last one story number five, a consortium led by private equity investors, has agreed to take a majority stake in the Boston Celtics basketball franchise. The staggering thing about this Sean, though, is the valuation six point one billion US dollars.

The deal tops the six point oh five billion valuation paid in twenty twenty three for the Washington Commanders franchise in the National Football League. According to the ft Now, the Celtics is one of the best known brands in sport, no doubt about that. They've won a lot of championships. William Chisholm, who's co founder of private equity firm STG and buyer of the team, has described himself as a die hard Celtics fan, undoubtedly. Sixth Street, the private equity firm led by former Golden Sex partner Alex Waxman, is also part of the consortium. It's an interesting company. It's already invested in NBA franchise at San Antonio Spurs. Last week it agreed to buy into the San Francisco Giants baseball team. It's invested in Spanish football all over the place. It's got money in sport.

The deal tops the six point oh five billion valuation paid in twenty twenty three for the Washington Commanders franchise in the National Football League. According to the ft Now, the Celtics is one of the best known brands in sport, no doubt about that. They've won a lot of championships. William Chisholm, who's co founder of private equity firm STG and buyer of the team, has described himself as a die hard Celtics fan, undoubtedly. Sixth Street, the private equity firm led by former Golden Sex partner Alex Waxman, is also part of the consortium. It's an interesting company. It's already invested in NBA franchise at San Antonio Spurs. Last week it agreed to buy into the San Francisco Giants baseball team. It's invested in Spanish football all over the place. It's got money in sport.

Indeed, all right, there we go to the top five business stories in five minutes. Thank you very much, Sean, Thank you, Michael. It is Monday, the twenty fourth of March 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. I'm Michael Thompson and that was the fast five business news by Fear and Greed. Have a great day.

Indeed, all right, there we go to the top five business stories in five minutes. Thank you very much, Sean, Thank you, Michael. It is Monday, the twenty fourth of March 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. I'm Michael Thompson and that was the fast five business news by Fear and Greed. Have a great day.