In October 2025, the Australian economy presented a mixed picture. While the S&P/ASX 200 saw modest gains, it was significantly outpaced by the robust, tech-driven rally of the US S&P 500. Domestically, the Australian residential property market continued its strong growth, with low listings and high buyer demand pushing prices up across the country, particularly in Brisbane, Perth, and Darwin. However, a higher-than-expected inflation figure for the September quarter has put a halt to expectations of further interest rate cuts by the RBA, with the cash rate now anticipated to remain on hold at 3.6% for the foreseeable future.