FINWIRES · TerminalLIVE
FINWIRES

Australian Companies' Gross Operating Profits Fall in March Quarter

By

Australia's seasonally adjusted company gross operating profits decreased 1.3% in the March quarter compared with the December 2025 quarter and rose 3.2% compared with the prior corresponding period, according to a Tuesday report by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Seasonally adjusted wages and salaries advanced 1.2% in the quarter and 5.5% compared with March 2025.

Meanwhile, inventories inched up 0.5% over the quarter on a seasonally adjusted, chain volume basis and edged down 0.3% compared with prior corresponding period.

Sales of goods and services rose in 10 industries and fell in five, with construction and professional, scientific, and technical services leading the gains, while mining recorded the largest decline.

Sales of goods and services in the manufacturing sector edged 0.3% higher over the quarter and grew 3.1% compared with 2025, while wholesale trade sales rose 0.5% for the quarter and 3% year on year.

Related Articles

International

Market Chatter: Japan Spent Record 11.73 Trillion Yen on Currency Intervention Over the Past Month

Japan deployed a record 11.73 trillion yen in market intervention over the four weeks through May 27 to prop up the yen after the currency tumbled past 160 per dollar, Bloomberg News reported on Saturday, citing Finance Ministry data.The total exceeded market expectations based on central bank flow data, and marked the government's first such action since 2024, said the news wire.A strategist at SMBC Nikko Securities noted that even with undisclosed action, the yen's continued weakness may strengthen arguments about the limitations of unilateral intervention, the publication said.More precise details on the timing and size of each operation are expected in early August when the ministry releases second-quarter figures, the report said.Next week's reserves data could reveal whether Japan sold US Treasury holdings to fund the purchases, a move that might concern US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent due to potential upward pressure on American yields, it added.(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

Nikkei 225
International

Westpac Banking Says Customers Spend AU$5.6 Million Per Month on Average on AI Tools

Westpac Banking (ASX:WBC, NZE:WBC) said its customers are spending a total average of AU$5.6 million per month on artificial intelligence (AI) tools, citing card transactions data, according to a Monday statement.Individually, customers are spending an average of AU$37 per month on AI subscriptions as of March. Overall, customers spend around AU$6.7 billion annually on subscriptions.Over 150,000 retail customers are paying for at least one AI subscription each month as of March, up from 11,000 customers who were paying for AI services as of March 2023. This represents an increase of 1,284%.

ASX:WBCNZE:WBC
International

South Korea Logs Record Trade Surplus in May as Export Growth Hits Four-Decade High

South Korea recorded a trade surplus of $26.9 billion in May, a new all-time high, and marking the third straight month of more than $20 billion in trade surplus, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said in a Monday release.It came as exports increased 53.2% to $87.8 billion from the year-ago period, the sharpest pace of growth since 1984. Imports rose 20.8% to $60.8 billion.Semiconductor exports surged 169.4% to a record $37.16 billion, while non-semiconductor exports increased by 16%. Rising memory chip prices amid increased capital spending by major U.S. technology companies pushed chip exports higher, the release said.

^KOSDAQKOSPI