Squiz Today / 13 July 2018
Squiz Today – Friday, 13 July
SQUIZ SAYINGS
“I never have to wait in a queue.”
Was a perk of having the world’s longest fingernails ever recorded on a single hand, according to 82yo Shridhar Chillal from Pune, India. After growing them for 66 years, Chillal had them cut off on Wednesday. And now they’re on display in New York. Seeing is believing…
HOMEOWNERS LOSING CONFIDENCE
THE SQUIZ
Feeling lucky, punk? Australia’s property owners would probably say “not so much” if you asked ithat question right now. That’s according to a survey measuring expectations of future house prices and rents released yesterday by the National Australia Bank. Confidence in Australia's housing market has fallen to a two-year low with New South Wales and Victoria getting the biggest case of the jitters.
WOULD SOME POSITIVE SELF TALK HELP?
Good thinking, but probably not. Pundits say falling house values in Oz's two biggest markets are the most significant contributor to the drop in confidence. Backing that up, fancy bank Morgan Stanley yesterday issued a note saying the outlook is dreary and it expects house prices to fall by 10%.
WHERE IS THIS GOING?
It depends on where you are in the market. If you’re a renter, the news is good. But many homeowners in Sydney and Melbourne will likely see more value come off their home this year and into the next. On the other hand, if you’re looking to get into those markets and you can get a loan, falling home prices is no bad thing. Meanwhile, the Queensland and WA markets are expected to grow. And Hobart continues its stonking run of home price increases. Thing to watch: an interest rate increase because the banks' lending costs are increasing.
SQUIZ THE REST
TRUMP TAKES LONDON
The NATO Summit has ended with US President Donald Trump claiming he’s secured commitments from member nations to increase their defence spending – something French President Emmanuel Macron says is phooey. It sounds like the meeting was as well received as Trump’s chief-of-staff’s breakfast… The caravan has moved onto London and meetings with PM Theresa May. What's on the agenda? Well, what's on the agenda for all leader meetings? You got it – trade and security. The day ends with a state dinner and Trump’s meeting with the Queen is on Friday local time. Then it's off to a golfing weekend at Trump Turnberry where the Trump Baby balloon has been declared off limits.
AUSSIES LOVE A TAX DEDUCTION
At least that’s what a Tax Office analysis revealed. In fact, we over-claimed to the tune of $8.7 billion in 2014/15. Yikes… Top of the list were work-related deductions, incorrect claims for rental property expenses and ‘forgetting’ to claim cash wages. "We are also asking people to take just a little extra care with what they claim because all of those little amounts add up," ATO Deputy Commissioner Alison Lendon said. Good luck with that...
DARRELL LEA TURNS LIFE SAVERS
When was the last time you bought a roll of Life Savers? We can't remember either, but apparently, Aussies buy 20 million packs every year. Darrell Lea, itself not far from the chopping block a couple of years ago, has agreed to buy the brand from food giant Nestle paving the way for the iconic sweet's return to its ancestral Aussie home. It’s currently produced in New Zealand. The deal will also include Odd Fellows mints and Mackintosh's Toffee.
GIVING IT A RED HOT GO
• Rebel Wilson – she’s going to the High Court. She’s not keen on paying back the $4.7 million in damages awarded to her in the defamation case against Bauer Media.
• Kylie Jenner – The baby of the Kardashian clan is worth US$900 million and is on track to become America’s youngest ever self-made billionaire. The 20yo started her brand Kylie Cosmetics, which is famous for its lippies, just two years ago.
• Game of Thrones - The show leads the nominations for the 2018 Emmys with 22 nominations. The awards ceremony is on 17 September.
QUICK WIMBLEDON WRAP
Serena Williams is through to Saturday’s final where she’ll meet German Angelique Kerber. The men's final is yet to be decided, but sadly one of the long-term greats will be knocked out before that with Rafael Nadal playing Novak Djokovic in the semi-final tonight.
FRIDAY LITES – THREE THINGS WE LIKED THIS WEEK
We haven’t seen a rom-com we've liked for ages. We couldn’t help but wonder, did Sex and the City kill the genre?
A bae-cation (that is, a vacation with your significant other) can be tricky. Here are some tips to plan a successful trip.
Crepes. We like them with lemon juice and a pinch of sugar sprinkled on top. This is happening this weekend.
SQUIZ THE DAY
Friday
1.00pm (AEST) - Best time to see the partial solar eclipse – visible only from the south-eastern coast of mainland Oz and Tassie
US President Donald Trump visits London. He will also meet with the Queen at Windsor Castle
ABS Data Release - Lending Finance, May
China Balance of Trade figures for June
Saturday
12.00am (AEST) - Wimbledon Men's Semi-Final - Rafael Nadal v Novak Djokovic
11.00pm (AEST) – Wimbledon Women’s Final - Serena Williams v Angelique Kerber
Republic Day - Iraq
UK PM Theresa May ‘celebrates’ two years in the top job
Sunday
11.00pm (AEST) – Wimbledon Men’s Final
Twitter celebrates its 12th birthday
Start of Wound Awareness Week
Monday
1.00am (AEST) – Soccer World Cup Final – France v Croatia
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