Westpac IQ

Monday re-issue edition: analysis and forecasts for this week's key releases.

Friday edition: analysis and forecasts for this week's key releases.

Monday re-issue edition: analysis and forecasts for this week's key releases.

The countdown is on for regulatory clarity on stablecoins, and it's time for banks, regulators and policymakers to prepare for what could be a fundamental reshaping of Australia's financial system. Here's what you need to know.

As 2025 has come to a close, our Q4 Sustainable Finance market update reviews the year's performance, looks at what’s ahead for 2026 and highlights developments in nature and finance. You’ll also find news on the latest market deals and details about an upcoming event you won't want to miss.

The latest edition of Sustainability Impact looks at ASIC’s support for smaller companies ahead of their mandatory sustainability reporting requirements, changes in the new Global Risks Report, the aim of Australia’s new National AI Plan, and more.

An RBA hike and dramatic volatility in a range of crowded consensus trades produced another week of outsized volatility for the Australian dollar. The currency traded as high as 0.7050 and as low as 0.6897, but ultimately, held all the right technical support levels. The Australian dollar clawed its way back above 0.7000 late in the week and looks forward to another busy calendar headlined by delayed Jan US payrolls, CPI and retail sales. Consumer and business surveys alongside RBA speak headline the local calendar.

A dizzying move in precious metals helped propel the Australian dollar more than US2 cents higher at one stage last week, to 0.7094, before an equally spectacular breakdown on Friday saw a good amount of these gains wiped out. The Australian dollar starts the week at 0.6950 ahead of a crucial RBA meeting and US non-farm payrolls on Friday.

The Australian dollar soared higher last week, following an emphatically strong Dec. labour market report which showed unemployment dropping to 4.1%, and the revamping of the dedollarisation narrative on account of geopolitics and tariff threats. Despite this elevated uncertainty, the Australian dollar outperformed its G10 peers over the week, gaining almost 2.5% against the USD and cementing its pole position on the G10 FX leaderboards. AUD/USD opens the week trading on the 0.69-handle. The week ahead is headlined by Australian Dec. quarter CPI and the FOMC. Markets will be glued to the newswires too, as geopolitical risks continue to simmer and as the US Administration lobs tariff threats on trade partners on a near daily basis.