It ended the week up 0.3%!

See you all next week. Thanks for your suggestions for stocks to investigate, I believe we all learned something.

Well it's almost the end of another trading week, folks.

This note from Kyle Rodda at Capital sums up the week.

"The ASX200 has traded in a mixed fashion, supported by the global drop in implied volatility and the impacts of a weaker US Dollar on global commodity prices," he notes.

"Energy and materials have underpinned the day’s gain, with gold stocks outshining the rest thanks to fresh record highs in the yellow metal. 

"The index lacked the gusto to make a serious challenge of fresh record highs. Depending on how the market starts next week, a case might be made that the index is carving out a bearish double top.

"There may be a slight risk aversion that creeps into the markets going into the weekend with China’s monthly data dump released tomorrow. 

"There's a two way risk where a strong print will boost risk appetite while a weak print could re-inflame fears about global growth. 

"That risk is compounded by public holidays in China and Japan at the start of next week and could be a source of choppy markets."

Please explain, Star Casino.

The "show cause notice" issued against it by the NSW Independent Casino Commission (The NICC) asks it to explain why it shouldn't be hit with penalties, like having its license cancelled or a fine of up to $100 million.

The NICC says that's after the second Bell Report found four "significant" breaches, including cash fraud and failures to run wealth checks on members.

Just this week, one of Star Sydney's dealers was charging with allegedly rigging its roulette tables in 2023!

The NICC says Star has 14 days to respond to its notice.

"The NICC will then consider what course of action it will take, including whether disciplinary action is appropriate," they say.

"The NICC continues to consider its response to the Bell Report including The Star’s ability to obtain financial resources to ensure the financial viability of the casino."

The mortgage comparison website has looked at yesterday's APRA data and found it shows mortgage arrears are still going up, especially for owner-occupiers.

The value of mortgages that haven't been paid in 90 days or more is now sitting at $23b.

"While this figure represents just 1.03% of all mortgages, it is the sixth consecutive quarterly rise as a share of all mortgages," they found. 

"And is now firmly above the 2019 pre-COVID average of 0.91%, based on the APRA quarterly property exposures statistics released yesterday."

"The APRA June quarter data shows the value of non-performing owner-occupier loans is now 1.07% of all owner-occupier loans on the books of all ADIs.

"While this is still low, it is a bigger share of loans than non-performing investor loans, which represent 0.86% of all investor loans."

Are you struggling with higher interest rates? 

We are always interested in hearing from people about the cost of living. Please email me for a confidential chat on terzon.emilia@abc.net.au.

The ASX 200 is up around 0.3% still. 

The federal government has given the green light to Melbourne Airport's proposed third runway.

The entity that runs the airport is happy, saying the $3 billion project will bring jobs to Victoria.

"Australia's vast distances and Melbourne's position on the globe mean demand for air access will continue to grow as our population increases," Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus said.

"The runway project will secure 51,000 jobs in Victoria's tourism, agriculture, education and other export industries, and will help add an additional $6 billion a year to the state economy."

Read more here.

It's now only up 0.2%.

The joy of discovering an up-and-coming band while they're still playing local gigs, or getting on the stage yourself, is an experience young Aussies have long held dear. 

But what happens when local venues shut down and you can no longer get your music fix?

The closure of 1,300 venues across Australia since the COVID-19 pandemic has been a huge blow for performers and music lovers alike.

In regional areas, which might only have had one venue to begin with, this impact has been felt all the more.

This one from ABC's Jean Bell and Olivia Sanders.

You might not know this, but the Australian government has partnered up Germany's federal ministry to look into a trading partnership and supply chain between the two nations centred around green metals, such as steel made from hydrogen power.

Germany is actually Europe's largest steel producer, and Australia is the biggest exporter of iron ore, which makes steel.

So you'd argue the partnership COULD make sense.

The University of NSW is leading the so-called SuSteelAG side for Australia, and its just released a paper looking into its feasibility.

They conclude Germany and Australia are "natural partners".

But there's a long way to go now. UNSW is set to release two more papers, which will actually delve into the logistics of how this partnership could happen.

The legislation - if passed - will put greater pressure in banks, telcos and tech giants and to shield consumers from criminal gangs that have been fleecing consumers of billions of dollars who are exploited by predatory texts and email messages.

Here's the ABC's senior business correspondent Peter Ryan.