ASX 200 rises as fresh data shows inflation falls into RBA's target range, could prompt second rate cut in 2025
The ASX 200 has edged higher following a market surge in the US overnight, amid fresh data showing the RBA's preferred measure of inflation has fallen into its target range.
The index bumped up 0.2 per cent on Wednesday, with Ramelius Resources rising 3.7 per cent and Spartan Resources jumping three per cent.
Australian stocks have been on a tear over the past week, rising by 3.2 per cent over the past five days.
Headline inflation remains stable at 2.4 per cent, but trimmed mean inflation - down from 3.3 per cent to 2.9 per cent - has fallen into the central bank's target range for the first time since 2021.
The new figures have sparked hope that the RBA is about to make its second interest rate cut of the year.
Sky News Business Reporter Ed Boyd said lowering inflation could lead to a boost in market confidence.
'Inflation numbers today could have an impact on the market,' Boyd said.
'If they're pretty good, the markets should lift even more.'
On Wall Street, all major indexes surged despite US employers posting 7.2 million jobs vacancies in March, below the 7.5 million forecast by economists.
The Nasdaq rose 0.6 per cent, the Dow Jones increased 0.8 per cent and the S&P 500 jumped 0.6 per cent.
Hopes of the ongoing trade war simmering have surged on the back of US President Donald Trump telling reporters tariff negotiations with India are 'coming along great' and predicting there will be a deal between the two major countries.
'I think we'll have a deal with India,' Trump said outside the White House.
'The prime minister, as you know, was here three weeks ago, and they want to make a deal.'
US treasury secretary Scott Bessent echoed Trump's comments, telling reporters the US was 'very close on India'.
The US President said he was in discussions with Anthony Albanese on tariff discussions after speculation grew on whether the Prime Minister can get in contact with Trump.
'They are calling, and I will be talking to him, yes,' Trump told Nine News.
The NZX 50 Index rose about 0.4 per cent on Wednesday before more than undoing these gains and sitting down 0.1 per cent.
After Japan pausing trading on Tuesday for Showa Day, Japan's Nikkei 225 spiked almost half a per cent before losing its gains.
South Korea's KOSPI is up about 0.1 per cent.
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