SBS On the Money

Outside of the deep recession of the early 1990s, pessimistic consumer sentiment is now running at its second most protracted period since Westpac started measuring it in the mid-1970s. So SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Westpac Senior Economist Matt Hassan for more, plus the day on the markets with Raaz Bhuyan from Wavestone Capital.

Qantas is introducing a new class of points called Classic Plus. Will it improve customer satisfaction? It'll cost the airline $120m and mean greater ease at using points for flights, so SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with analysts Angus Hewitt, CFA from Morningstar Australia and Alex Pikoulas, CFA from Harper Bernays to find out more. Plus Hans Hendrischke from the University of Sydney looks to the improving relations between China and Australia as investment from the nation falls.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves discusses the outlook for markets and global interest rates with Oreana Financial's Isaac Poole.

The government's target to build 1.2 million homes over the next five years looks increasingly challenging as dwelling approvals hit a stumbling block. Rhayna Bosch speaks with Tom Devitt from the HIA, plus SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves discusses the latest household spending data with Moody's Analytics Senior Economist Katrina Ell, and the day on the market with Henry Jennings from Marcus Today.

Property listings rose across to nation to more normal levels, but SQM Research's Louis Christopher tells John Baldock, so too did distressed sales, although they're still at below pandemic levels. Plus, SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Jun Bei Liu from Tribeca Investment Partners about the day's sharemarket action as gold continues to reach new highs.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Commonwealth Bank Senior Economist Belinda Allen for more on interest rates, plus market reaction with Zoran Kresovic from Eightcap.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with AMP Chief Economist Shane Oliver about the economic lasting impacts of COVID four years after the inital lockdowns began, while Citi's Elizabeth Tian takes a look at the day on the market, including another record high.

Inflation is steady but chocolate prices rise ahead of Easter. SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Madeline Dunk from ANZ and Grady Wulff from Bell Direct about what today's official inflation report says about the future direction of consumer prices and interest rates, while Rhayna Bosch talks about chocolate with Pia Piggott from Rabobank about the implications of record high cocoa prices.

Listen to Australian and world news, and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts. The RBA's Financial Stability Review painted a benign picture of the economy, but with ongoing risks. Rhayna Bosch speaks with Shane Oliver from AMP for more, plus SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves discusses the day's market action with Mahjabeen Zaman from ANZ.

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Chief Economist David Robertson who is expecting interest rates won't fall until 2025 as Australian unemployment rate falls unexpectedly to 3.7% in February. Plus, Gemma Dale from nabtrade looks through the day's market action including the potential three interest rate cuts to come from the US Federal Reserve.