ASX 200 live: $50bn-plus wipeout after US meltdown; ANZ first strike likely; US Fed cuts rates, signals 2025 slowdown; AUD drops
The ASX 200 suffered its worst day in three months, as investors dumped tech, bank and mining stocks. The Australian dollar also hit a two-year low after big falls on Wall Street following the Federal Reserve's weak rates outlook.
Welcome to the Trading Day blog for Thursday, December 19. The ASX 200 index closed 1.7 per cent lower to 8168.20 points with all sectors in the red.
On Wall Street, the blue-chip Dow Jones index logged its longest losing streak in five decades - down 1123 points or 2.6 per cent. The Nasdaq Composite dropped 3.6 per cent, while the S&P 500 lost nearly 3 per cent after Federal chair Jerome Powell pencilled in just two cuts next year.
Bitcoin at $US101,300 at 5pm AEDT - after hitting a high of $US108,000 earlier this week.
The Aussie dollar trading around US62.18c at 5pm AEDT.
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Originally published as ASX 200 live: $50bn-plus wipeout after US meltdown; ANZ first strike likely; US Fed cuts rates, signals 2025 slowdown; AUD drops
Fare wars heat up as airline drops $39 flights
Australia’s rival airlines have released hundreds of thousands of discounted seats to some of the hottest destinations, both here and overseas, in huge Boxing Day sales.
What’s open on Boxing Day
If you’re needing to stock up after Christmas or want to snap up a bargain in the Boxing Day sales, this is your full guide to today’s trading hours.