The federal budget: What we know so far   FEDERAL BUDGET – WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR:   THE BIG PICTURE  * With the COVID-19 pandemic, flooding and Ukraine-Russia war creating headwinds, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is emphasising the “fiscal divi

THE BIG PICTURE

* With the COVID-19 pandemic, flooding and Ukraine-Russia war creating headwinds, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is emphasising the “fiscal dividend of a stronger economy”.

* Budget deficit estimated to be around $70 billion, instead of the $98.9 billion estimated in the mid-year budget review in December 2021

     

 
   Following the crypto trail, illicit or not 
 




















  
  



    

 
   Volatile cryptocurrencies are not for the faint-hearted.  Some buyers even have them tattooed.  The world’s dominant cryptocurrency Bitcoin is the most

Volatile cryptocurrencies are not for the faint-hearted.

Some buyers even have them tattooed.

The world’s dominant cryptocurrency Bitcoin is the most inked, according to research by industry platform Crypto Head.

Bitcoin is well ahead of second and third placegetters in the tattoo stakes – #dogecointattoo and #ethereumtattoo, according to the analysis of Instagram hashtags and Google search volumes.

     

 
   Source: Bloomberg, FXStreet, AMP  Investment markets and key developments over the past week   The past week saw share markets rebound  helped by optimism about a peace deal in Ukraine, a fall back in oil prices, relief that the Fed’

The past week saw share markets rebound helped by optimism about a peace deal in Ukraine, a fall back in oil prices, relief that the Fed’s first rate hike was broadly as expected with the Fed seeing the US economy as strong and indications that China will provide more policy stimulus partly to combat covid related lockdowns.