David Chau
David Chau presents finance segments on the ABC News Channel, and is a multi-platform business reporter in Sydney. Prior to joining the ABC, he was a lawyer specialising in litigation. If you have a story idea or tip, send David an email or a private Twitter message: @chaudave.
Latest by David Chau
As it happened: ASX closes down, Virgin CEO Jayne Hrdlicka steps down, BHP CEO Mike Henry speaks with The Business
By business reporters David Chau, Michael Janda and Nadia Daly
 The ASX closed down, Virgin CEO Jayne Hrdlicka announced she will step down and BHP CEO Mike Henry speaks with The Business.
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ASX ends lower, AGL's Loy Yang A power station goes offline, consumer confidence rebounds (sort of) and bitcoin jumps to $US50,000 — as it happened
By business reporters David Chau and Michael Janda
 The Australian share market finished lower for the day as earnings season continued, while the price of bitcoin surged to $US50,000 for the first time in two years and AGL's Loy Yang A power station in Victoria suffers an outage.
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Australian share market hits all-time high after inflation falls to two-year low — as it happened
By business reporters David Chau, Kate Ainsworth and Michael Janda with wires
 The Australian share market sets a new record high after inflation hit a two-year low in the December quarter, as economists forecast interest rate cuts from the Reserve Bank could come sooner than expected.
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Christmas retail sales slump on consumer pessimism, ASX near record high — as it happened
By business reporters Kate Ainsworth and David Chau
 Last month's Christmas and Boxing Day sales were much worse than expected for Australian retailers. Meanwhile, the ASX was a whisker away from a record high.
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As it happened: ASX closes higher, households are more indebted, so do we need tougher lending rules?
By business reporter David Chau and Nassim Khadem
 Australian households' debt-to-income ratio has reached 185 per cent of disposable income. Is it time to impose tougher lending restrictions? Read about this and how the Australian share market closed higher on Tuesday after an optimistic streak on Wall Street that pushed US stocks to a fresh record high.
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ASX jumps nearly 8 per cent in 2023 as Australian market nears a record high — as it happened
By business reporter Gareth Hutchens, David Chau and wires
 The Australian share market slipped on its final trading day of 2023, but is still hovering near record-high levels. The ASX 200 has gained nearly 8 per cent since the year began, its best annual return since 2021 as markets increasingly bet on interest rate cuts next year.
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ASX closes in on record high as markets bet on interest rate cuts in 2024
By business reporters David Chau and Gareth Hutchens and wires
 The local share market closes just shy of a record high, while the Australian dollar traded at its highest level in five months on expectations of steep US interest rate cuts next year — as it happened.
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Reserve Bank leaves rates on hold at 4.35pc, ASX and Aussie dollar tumble — as it happened
By business reporter David Chau and wires
 The Australian dollar tumbles after the Reserve Bank leaves its cash rate target on hold at 4.35 per cent, as the local share market falls from a 10-week high.
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Australian dollar rises to four-month high, RBA governor says businesses passing on higher costs — as it happened
By business reporter David Chau and wires
 The Australian dollar has risen to its highest level in nearly four months on increased bets the US Federal Reserve is finished with its interest rate hikes.
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This year's Black Friday sales are set to break retail records, but it could lead to a 'penny-pinching' Christmas
By business reporters David Chau and Nassim Khadem
 Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales are expected to account for more than a quarter of all holiday purchases this year. But economists are predicting a "penny-pinching" Christmas as interest rates stay higher for longer. 
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ASX closes higher, driven by commodities and energy stocks, as Fortescue shareholders reject remuneration report — as it happened
By business reporter David Chau and wires
 Mining stocks have driven the Australian share market higher, while Fortescue shareholders reject remuneration report.
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As unemployment rises, Jack is finding it hard to career-switch from the Navy to the tech sector
By business reporters Gareth Hutchens and David Chau
 A rising number of people looking for work pushes unemployment up, despite the creation of 55,000 jobs last month.
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ASX rises as CBA reports $2.5b quarterly profit, AustralianSuper increases stake in Origin Energy — as it happened
By business reporter David Chau and wires
 The Australian share market has risen moderately despite Wall Street's struggle to find direction overnight as investors await crucial inflation data that will decide how high US interest rates will climb.
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RBA lifts interest rates to 12-year high of 4.35pc, WeWork files for bankruptcy in US, ASX closes lower — as it happened
By business reporters David Chau and Kate Ainsworth
 The RBA has lifted the cash rate by 0.25 percentage points in November, taking the rate to 4.35 per cent, while the Australian share market finished lower. Look back on the day's events with our blog.
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Qantas board set for a shake-up as Richard Goyder becomes latest high-profile exit, ASX rises for fifth straight day — as it happened
By business reporter David Chau and wires
 The Qantas chairman continues to defy public pressure to immediately step down, instead announcing he will retire next year, and the Australian share market closes higher for the fifth day in a row.
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How a 'sharp deterioration' in China's property market could affect housing affordability in Australia
By business reporter David Chau
 Australia's biggest trading partner is facing its biggest economic slowdown in decades, and the Reserve Bank has warned that stress in China's economy will be felt across the world — including here in Australia.
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ASX wipes out all its gains of 2023, RBA keeps rates on hold but doesn't rule out future increase — as it happened
By business reporter David Chau and wires
 The local share market suffered heavy losses as investors bet on interest rates staying higher for longer, while the Australian dollar slumped to its weakest level since November, despite increased bets the Reserve Bank will lift interest rates again in the next few months. 
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ASX slips to 11-week low, Wall Street snaps four-day losing streak — as it happened
By business reporter David Chau and wires
 The Australian share market has fallen to its lowest level since July 10, while the US dollar has risen to a 10-month high on bets interest rates may stay higher for longer than investors expected. 
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Cost of living pressures drive record number of people into labour market as unemployment rate stays steady
By business reporters Gareth Hutchens and David Chau
 The unemployment rate remained at 3.7 per cent in August, as 65,000 people found work and official unemployment fell slightly.
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Brigid has been looking for a job for months. The latest figures show there are thousands just like her
By business reporters Emily Stewart and David Chau
 Australia's unemployment rate has risen to 3.7 per cent for July, up from 3.5 per cent in June, with 36,000 more people unemployed, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics data.
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A perfect storm is brewing at Lillian's cafe: Rising costs and fewer customers coming through the door
By business reporters Kate Ainsworth and David Chau
 Cafes and restaurants saw a boom of big-spending customers after the pandemic. Now, as cost-of-living pressures bite households and the cost of doing business grows, some in the hospitality industry are struggling to stay afloat.
Suncorp and Commonwealth Bank profits jump, financials rally boosts ASX in late trade — as it happened
By business reporter David Chau and wires
 The Australian share market ended higher after a rally by financial stocks as the Commonwealth Bank posts a record annual profit. Suncorp's profit also surged but investors were disappointed by its dividend payout. 
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'Consumer spending has really fallen off a cliff': Corporate reporting season offers a window on the economy's future
By business reporters David Chau and Kate Ainsworth
 Australia's biggest companies are detailing the impact cost-of-living pressures and high interest rates have had on their bottom line. Analysts say the results will give an early warning sign as to where the economy is heading.
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Markets and economists split on chances of RBA rate hike, ASX rises — as it happened
By business reporter David Chau and wires
 The Australian share market ended its day cautiously higher as traders bet the Reserve Bank will pause its interest rate-hiking cycle tomorrow, but economists are not as optimistic.
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ASX rises to four-week high, ASIC cancels crypto firm FTX's financial services licence — as it happened
By business reporter David Chau and wires
 The Australian share market rises to its highest level in a month, while ASIC cancels the financial services licence of cryptocurrency firm FTX's local subsidiary. Look back at how the day unfolded in our live blog.
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