Labour Force, Australia, February 2026

The total value of machinery orders received by 280 manufacturers operating in Japan decreased by 2.0% in January from the previous month on a seasonally adjusted basis. ...

I have just spoken with the Emir of Qatar and President Trump following the strikes that hit gas production facilities in Iran and Qatar today. It is in our common interest to implement, without delay, a moratorium on strikes targeting civilian infrastructure,…

Escalation of conflict in the Middle East has sparked a sharp increase in volatility in global financial markets, following a period of benign market conditions. Volatility has been particularly pronounced in energy and other commodity markets, and this has spilled over to other asset classes. Just prior to the escalation of the conflict, some firms had experienced sharp equity price declines as investors reassessed the prospects for AI to affect business models. Conditions for private credit markets had also become more challenging. Yet risk premia in global equity and credit markets have remained fairly low by historical standards. Additionally, even after an increase in government bond yields in several advanced economies, measures of sovereign bond term premia were well within historical ranges and markets remained functional. Resilience in the global financial system prior to the escalation of the conflict had been supported by systemically important banks remaining profitable and well capitalised, and growth in the global economy over the past year exceeding most analyst expectations, with trade flows adjusting relatively quickly to changes in tariffs. Corporate and household balance sheets in advanced economies have remained strong, although pockets of stress persist among non-prime borrowers. Reserve Bank of Australia observes that the likelihood of a major negative shock to Australia’s financial system has risen recently. RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA CAUTIONS THAT THE MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT MAY TRIGGER A SIGNIFICANT INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL DISRUPTION. ... Reserve Bank of Australia states that Australian banks are equipped to handle loan losses even during a severe economic downturn. RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA INDICATES THAT HOUSEHOLDS AND BUSINESSES ARE GENERALLY IN SOLID FINANCIAL SHAPE AND UNLIKELY TO DESTABILIZE THE SYSTEM. ...