Good Evening

We appreciate your continued support as we rebrand our newsletter, which we are starting today. Please stay tuned.

- Miko Santos and the Team

The S&P/ASX 200 notched only its second close above 7800 and just 41 points from a new record in what was a steady and broad-based move higher.

Global equities appear to be in a synchronised growth phase as investors bet on a slew of interest rate cuts before the end of the year, and the local market is riding the coat tails of a broad risk-on rally.

Takeovers featured in the performances of the top two sectors today, Real Estate and Energy, as McGrath (MEA) and MMA Offshore (MRM) received bids respectively. [ Continue to read ]

💡Evening’s Headlines

• The ACTU will advocate for a 5% pay increase in the upcoming annual wage review, arguing that businesses can afford an inflation-beating increase once profits exceed pre-pandemic levels.

• Leader of the Greens Adam Bandt stated that if Labour abandons the gas deal, he supports the government's proposed fuel efficiency standards.

🚑 HEALTH

NSW RSV vaccination programme is well-received by Royal Australian College of GPs

The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) has welcomed the New South Wales Government rolling out an RSV immunisation program for at risk infants.

It comes following reports that 9,000 babies across the state most at risk from respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, will be eligible for the vaccination from Monday. The program will initially be offered to premature infants born after 31 October last year, as well as all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants born after that same date. Other high-risk, eligible infants including those with chronic neonatal lung disease less than 12 months of age and babies with combined immunodeficiency.

Recently, the College welcomed Western Australia becoming the first Australian jurisdiction to rollout an infant RSV immunisation and  urged Tasmania to follow suit.

RACGP NSW and ACT Chair, Dr Rebekah Hoffman, welcomed the decision.

“This decision will save lives in my home state,” she said.

“Some families may not realise that RSV is the number one cause of hospitalisation for children aged five and under. So, by immunising those infants who are particularly vulnerable to severe health impacts from RSV infection, we can keep these babies as safe as possible. Well done to the New South Wales Government for rolling out this immunisation, it will make such a difference in communities across the state.”

Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is common respiratory infection which mostly affects young children, including babies. The symptoms are usually mild and manageable at home; however, some children and adults can become extremely ill and require hospital treatment. There were 127,944 RSV cases reported last year Australia-wide, causing symptoms that ranged from mild to life-threatening.

🖥️ Technology

Apple Filed a Lawsuit Regarding AirTags Privacy

Apple was sued in a class action for failing to address AirTag privacy issues, which led to stalking and abuse. The lawsuit, filed last year and approved this month, claims plaintiffs suffered "substantial" injuries from Apple's $29 Bluetooth tracker abuse that the company failed to address. Apple has always claimed that its AirTags systems allow people to identify and disable any unexpected AirTags or other Find My network-equipped sensors near them. At Apple's 2021 AirTag launch, executives spent extra time on stage discussing privacy-focused features to track items, "not people." Some digital-tracking sensor users disagree. Apple is being sued by a woman who found an unwanted AirTag during a contentious divorce and a woman who was tracked and harassed after a three-month relationship ended.

🌎 World Tonight

Trump's Mixed Court Rulings in New York: Delaying Seizure of Assets and Failing to Avoid Criminal Trial

The courts gave Donald Trump a lifeline Monday and a trial date for the first criminal trial of a former president in US history, highlighting his legal woes. The twin rulings Monday, which came within an hour of each other, challenge Trump's image and business empire as he seeks a second term. Trump's historic criminal trial in the New York hush money case will begin with jury selection on April 15, Judge Juan Merchan said Monday. A dispute over late document production initially delayed the start date. A New York appeals court allowing Trump to post a reduced $175 million bond as he appeals the $464 million civil fraud judgement against him, his adult sons, and his company may have been more significant Monday. Trump told reporters he will secure the bond with cash.

🏅 SPORTS

The Sydney Swans' Paige Sheppard and Alexia Hamilton received conditional release orders for drug possession.

Two Sydney Swans AFLW players were handed conditional release orders after being charged by police late last year for possessing an illicit substance.

Court records show Alexia Hamilton and Paige Sheppard were both sentenced to a 12-month conditional release order on January 30 at Waverley Local Court in Sydney.

The incident occurred in December, after the Swans' AFLW season had ended with a semifinal thumping from Adelaide on November 18.

The AFL is currently reviewing its illicit drugs policy and it is unclear what penalty the players are facing.