SBS News In Depth

The ASX200 has edged lower, snapping a three-week run despite fresh record highs on Wall Street, with weakness in consumer discretionary stocks offset by gains in tech and buy now, pay later players. In this short end-of-week update, Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Dianne Colledge from Morgans Financial Limited about what is driving the local market, the outlook for key sectors and how global momentum is shaping sentiment at home, alongside moves in the Australian dollar and oil prices.

How do you guarantee a good turn out at a funeral? After all, the last thing you want to happen as you pass on to whatever lies beyond the grave... is to go without at least a bit of fuss. In Kenya, some families are hiring professional mourners to give their loved ones the ultimate send-off.

Israel has agreed a 10-day ceasefire with the Lebanese government off the back of recent talks in Washington. Hezbollah has not been directly included in negotiations but appears willing to uphold the temporary truce. US President Donald Trump says leader-level talks are expected to follow in coming days.

The Australian Government has unveiled the 2026 National Defence Strategy, outlining reprioritised investments in drones, missile defence and undersea warfare capabilities. While the government claims the new strategy includes record defence spending allocations, the opposition has accused Labor of artificially inflating the numbers.

The ASX eases despite strong leads from Wall Street, while Australia’s unemployment rate holds at 4.3 per cent and companies grapple with rising costs. Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with HSBC Chief Economist Paul Bloxham on what the latest labour market data means for interest rates, and with David Lane from Ord Minnett on the day’s market moves. Plus, Mark Thirlwell from the Australian Institute of Company Directors explains why artificial intelligence and productivity pressures are keeping business leaders awake at night.