Part 1/6:

Stock Market Highlights and Insights: A Week of Surprising Developments

Market Overview: Record Highs Amid Unexpected Unemployment Data

Last week, the share market reached new heights, driven primarily by an unexpected rise in the unemployment rate. This surprising increase has actually heightened speculation about a potential interest rate cut by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA).

Markets started this week with a slight dip, but the overall trend remains positive. The ASX 200, Australia’s benchmark index, recorded a new intraday and closing high last week. Despite a modest decline of approximately 0.7% in early trading, the index remains just below the critical 8,700-point threshold — a level it only breached on Friday, underscoring recent market resilience.