ASX set to rise, Black Friday kicks off and a focus on flexible work.
ASX: The ASX is expected to rise today, with no lead from Wall St, which was closed for the Thanksgiving holiday. Australian shares edged higher on Thursday, in line with gains across Asian markets, after signs the US Federal Reserve could moderate its aggressive monetary tightening.
Black Friday: It’s Black Friday and the annual sales event is set to see a record $6.2 billion change hands over four days in total - with the purchases of an expected 11 million shoppers, which will far eclipse the traditional Boxing Day shopping frenzy.
From flights to face cream, there are sales in most sectors, however, shoppers are being urged to stay vigilant against phishing emails and texts, amid the bargain hunting.
Flexible work increases: New data released by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency shows that Australian workplaces are increasingly moving to flexible working arrangements, with many adopting a new approach prioritising meeting work output expectations over time spent in the office.
The research found almost 40 per cent of workplaces had implemented roles that allowed staff to choose how, where and when they worked.
Treasurer hosts investor meeting: Treasurer Jim Chalmers will be hosting the first of a series of roundtable discussions with private sector representatives that will focus on housing and finding financing solutions to tackle Australia's affordable-housing crisis.
Labor's national Housing Accord is designed to build 1 million new homes in five years from 2024, although Greens-commissioned Parliamentary Library analysis has found just 2 per cent of those homes would be affordable for low-income earners.
The attendees at todays’'s event in Sydney will include CEOs of the Big Four banks and the head of Australia's sovereign wealth fund, Raphael Arndt, while ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr will represent the states and territories.
Housing incentive laws and more: Laws aiming to free up larger housing by incentivising pensioners to downsize with extended concessions are part of the pile of legislation the Government is trying to push through Parliament.
Time has also been put aside on Thursday for laws to remove the handbrake on territories legislating on euthanasia, with debate to go as long as needed before coming to a vote.
A vote will be forced on any listed legislation that hasn't been voted on by that afternoon, including the pensioners bill, biosecurity amendments, sex discrimination laws and electric car discounts.
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