Business
Australian Dollar’s Decline Against The US Dollar: Causes And Consequences Of Its Recent Downturn

(CTN NEWS) – The Australian dollar’s recent precipitous decline, especially against the US dollar, has sparked inquiries into its causes and potential repercussions.
Analysts are contemplating the possibility of the dollar plummeting below the US60c mark, a prospect that could elicit elation among exporters and tourists while concurrently fostering an environment conducive to further interest rate hikes.
The Australian dollar has encountered a steep descent in recent times, particularly in contrast to the US dollar. This week, the Australian dollar hit a nadir of US63.63c, representing its lowest valuation since the preceding November.
Discounting this downturn and a more pronounced one that occurred during the initial tumultuous stages of the Covid-19 pandemic – when its value stood at approximately US57c – the dollar’s feebleness against the greenback has not been this pronounced since the global financial crisis of 2009.
Australian Dollar’s Interaction with Euro Reveals Parallel Narrative
A parallel narrative unfolds in the Australian dollar’s interaction with the euro. On the preceding Friday, the currency barely surpassed 59 euro cents in value. This figure, excluding the impact of the Covid-induced dip, marks the lowest point since the global financial crisis.
Visitors from Britain attending the World Cup in Australia find themselves in an advantageous position, benefiting from a nearly $2 exchange rate for every pound.
Beyond the downturn caused by Covid-19, the last instance of the Australian dollar’s vulnerability to such an extent against the pound was during the Brexit referendum, when Britain voted in favor of leaving the European Union.
The US dollar serves as the prevailing benchmark for Australians, despite the limited extent of bilateral trade with the United States.
The significance of the exchange rate lies in the fact that a substantial portion of Australia’s exports consists of commodities denominated in US dollars.
Causes Behind the Recent Downturn
The recent descent in the Australian dollar’s value can be attributed to two prominent factors that have come into play.
Foremost, the unexpected robustness of the US economy has spurred anticipations of another increase in the federal reserve’s key interest rate, following the rise witnessed in July, pushing it into a range of 5.25% to 5.5%.
In stark contrast, the Reserve Bank of Australia has maintained its cash rate at 4.1% since June. This stance remains unaltered despite two instances of lackluster data, encompassing modest wage growth and an uptick in the unemployment rate.
These developments have further solidified the prevailing belief that the RBA’s actions are at a standstill.
The divergence in the two interest rates, a divergence that could potentially expand further, will steer investors towards acquiring US dollars while offloading Australian dollars.
The second major influence is China’s unexpectedly feeble economic resurgence subsequent to its stringent Covid-induced lockdowns.
The occurrence of deflation in July, contrary to the predominantly inflationary concerns elsewhere, has only amplified apprehensions surrounding China’s economic performance.
Investors frequently perceive the Australian and New Zealand dollars as indicators of China’s economic state due to the trade exposure of these economies.
Australia’s exports to China, including Hong Kong, hold a comparable value to the combined exports to the next four largest trade partners.
In its most recent quarterly statement of monetary policy, the Reserve Bank of Australia underscored “China’s uneven recovery from Covid-19 restrictions” as the foremost entry in its list of “key domestic uncertainties.”
Navigating the ‘Doom Loops’ in Forex Markets
Ray Attrill, the head of foreign exchange strategy at NAB, emphasizes the capricious and dramatic nature of forex markets.
At present, his team is in the process of reassessing their earlier projection that the Australian dollar would reach approximately 70 US cents by the year’s end, a forecast that is progressively appearing less feasible.
While the psychological threshold of 60 US cents is gaining significant attention, it’s important to note that this level has not yet become NAB’s official prediction.
The emergence of a “doom loop” is becoming evident as a sequence of events unfolds, with Japan, China, and South Korea sequentially allowing their currencies to weaken in order to bolster their export sectors.
Attrill underscores that this phenomenon is intricately linked to the Bank of Japan’s policy framework, which aims to maintain a weakened yen against the US dollar.
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Business
PepsiCo Reduces Revenue Projections As North American Snacks And Key International Markets Underperform.

(VOR News) – In the third quarter of this year, Pepsi’s net income was $2.93 billion, which is equivalent to $2.13 per share. This was attributed to the company.
This is in stark contrast to net income of $3.09 billion, which is equivalent to $2.24 per share, during the same period in the previous year. The company’s earnings per share were $2.31 when expenses were excluded.
Net sales decreased by 0.6%, totaling $23.32 billion. Organic sales increased by 1.3% during the quarter when the effects of acquisitions, divestitures, and currency changes are excluded.
Pepsi’s beverage sales fell this quarter.
The most recent report indicates that the beverage and food sectors of the organization experienced a 2% decline in volume. Consumers of all income levels are demonstrating a change in their purchasing habits, as indicated by CEOs’ statements from the previous quarter.
Pepsi’s entire volume was adversely affected by the lackluster demand they encountered in North America. An increasing number of Americans are becoming more frugal, reducing the number of snacks they ingest, and reducing the number of times they purchase at convenience stores.
Furthermore, Laguarta observed that the increase in sales was partially attributed to the election that occurred in Mexico during the month of June.
The most significant decrease in volume was experienced by Quaker Foods North America, which was 13%. In December, the company announced its initial recall in response to a potential salmonella infection.
Due to the probability of an illness, the recall was extended in January. Pepsi officially closed a plant that was implicated in the recalls in June, despite the fact that manufacturing had already been halted.
Jamie Caulfield, the Chief Financial Officer of Pepsi and Laguarta, has indicated that the recalls are beginning to have a lessening effect.
Frito-Lay experienced a 1.5% decline in volume in North America. The company has been striving to improve the value it offers to consumers and the accessibility of its snack line, which includes SunChips, Cheetos, and Stacy’s pita chips, in the retail establishments where it is sold.
Despite the fact that the category as a whole has slowed down in comparison to the results of previous years, the level of activity within the division is progressively increasing.
Pepsi executives issued a statement in which they stated that “Salty and savory snacks have underperformed year-to-date after outperforming packaged food categories in previous years.”
Pepsi will spend more on Doritos and Tostitos in the fall and winter before football season.
The company is currently promoting incentive packets for Tostitos and Ruffles, which contain twenty percent more chips than the standard package.
Pepsi is expanding its product line in order to more effectively target individuals who are health-conscious. The business announced its intention to acquire Siete Foods for a total of $1.2 billion approximately one week ago. The restaurant serves Mexican-American cuisine, which is typically modified to meet the dietary needs of a diverse clientele.
The beverage segment of Pepsi in North America experienced a three percent decrease in volume. Despite the fact that the demand for energy drinks, such as Pepsi’s Rockstar, has decreased as a result of consumers visiting convenience stores, the sales of well-known brands such as Gatorade and Pepsi have seen an increase throughout the quarter.
Laguarta expressed his opinion to the analysts during the company’s conference call, asserting, “I am of the opinion that it is a component of the economic cycle that we are currently experiencing, and that it will reverse itself in the future, once consumers feel better.”
Additionally, it has been noted that the food and beverage markets of South Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa have experienced a decline in sales volume. The company cut its forecast for organic revenue for the entire year on Tuesday due to the business’s second consecutive quarter of lower-than-anticipated sales.
The company’s performance during the quarter was adversely affected by the Quaker Foods North America recalls, the decrease in demand in the United States, and the interruptions that occurred in specific international markets, as per the statements made by Chief Executive Officer Ramon Laguarta.
Pepsi has revised its forecast for organic sales in 2024, shifting from a 4% growth rate to a low single-digit growth rate. The company reiterated its expectation that the core constant currency profitability per share will increase by a minimum of 8% in comparison to the previous year.
The company’s shares declined by less than one percent during premarket trading. The following discrepancies between the company’s report and the projections of Wall Street were identified by LSEG in a survey of analysts:
SOURCE: CNBC
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Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.
Business
Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.

(VOR News) – Old National Bank, a commercial bank with its headquarters in the Midwest, and Infosys, a firm that specializes in information technology, have recently entered into a strategic expansion of their link, which has been in place for the past four years.
This expansion is more likely to take place sooner rather than later, with the likelihood being higher.
For the purpose of making it possible for Old National Bank to make use of the services, solutions, and platforms that are offered by Infosys, the objective of this expansion is to make it possible for the bank to transform its operations and processes through the application of automation and GenAI, as well as to change significant business areas.
This lets the bank leverage Infosys’ services, solutions, and platforms.
Old National Bank Chairman and CEO Jim Ryan said, “At Old National, we are committed to creating exceptional experiences for both our customers and our fellow employees.”
This statement is applicable to Old National Bank. Infosys is carefully managing the business process innovations that it is putting us through, putting a strong emphasis on efficiency and value growth throughout the process to ensure that it is carried out efficiently.
This is a routine occurrence throughout the entire operation. Because of Infosys’ dedication to our development and success, we are incredibly appreciative of the assistance they have provided.
Old National has been receiving assistance from Infosys in the process of updating its digital environment since the year 2020, according to the aforementioned company.
Ever since that time, the company has been providing assistance. The provision of this assistance has been accomplished through the utilization of a model that is not only powerful but also capable of functioning on its own power.
Infosys currently ranks Old National thirty-first out of the top thirty US banks.
This ranking is based on the fact that Old National is the nation’s largest banking corporation.
It is estimated that the total value of the company’s assets is approximately fifty-three billion dollars, while the assets that are currently being managed by the organization are valued at thirty billion dollars.
Dennis Gada, the Executive Vice President and Global Head of Banking and Financial Services, stated that “Old National Bank and Infosys possess a robust cultural and strategic alignment in the development, management, and enhancement of enterprise-scale solutions to transform the bank’s operations and facilitate growth.”
This remark referenced the exceptional cultural and strategic synergy between the two organizations. Dennis Gada is the one who asserted this claim. This was articulated explicitly concerning the exceptional cultural congruence and strategy alignment of the two organizations.
We are pleased to announce that the implementation of Infosys Topaz will substantially expedite the transformation of Old National Bank’s business processes and customer service protocols. We are exceedingly enthusiastic about this matter. We are quite thrilled about this specific component of the scenario.
Medium-sized banks operating regionally will continue to benefit from our substantial expertise in the sector, technology, and operations. This specific market segment of Infosys will persist in benefiting from our extensive experience. This phenomenon will enable this market sector to sustain substantial growth and efficiency benefits.
SOURCE: THBL
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American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack
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Business
American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack

The largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States stated Monday that it had been the target of a cyberattack, forcing the company to halt invoicing to consumers.
American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack
American Water, based in New Jersey and serving over 14 million people in 14 states and 18 military facilities, said it learned of the unauthorized activity on Thursday and quickly took precautions, including shutting down certain systems. The business does not believe the attack had an impact on its facilities or operations and said employees were working “around the clock” to determine the origin and scale of the attack.
According to their website, American Water operates over 500 water and wastewater systems in around 1,700 communities across California, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
SOURCE | AP
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