Corporate & institutional

The six-month annualised growth rate in the Westpac–Melbourne Institute Leading Index, which indicates the likely pace of economic activity relative to trend three to nine months into the future, stayed in positive territory in December, albeit easing a touch to 0.25% from 0.33% in November.

Consumer prices rose by 0.5% in the December quarter. That saw annual inflation remaining at 2.2%. However, core inflation has continued to ease. The result was close to expectation.

Today's economic developments and market movements.

Climate finance deals were high on the agenda at the global climate conference, COP29, held in November. Our final issue of Westpac IQ’s ESG Impact for the year explores some of the key outcomes from the two-week event, along with the latest on Australia’s increasing momentum in renewable energy, new policies and funding for road transport, plus the outcomes of two global nature and biodiversity summits, and more.

Awareness of the economic value of nature for business is rising rapidly.

2024 began auspiciously as Westpac set the pace for Australian securitisation markets in January with the largest major bank deal in four years.