Here’s what you need to know today

• First-home buyers will get earlier access to the government’s 5% deposit scheme, with rollout brought forward to October from January 2026. The scheme allows buyers to avoid lenders mortgage insurance, with the government acting as guarantor for the remaining 15% of the deposit. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the move is about helping young people achieve home ownership sooner. However, Shadow Minister for Housing, Andrew Bragg warned the uncapped, non-means-tested scheme could materially push up demand and prices. (ABC)
  
  

• Chinese property giant Evergrande has been officially delisted from the Hong Kong stock exchange, ending more than 15 years as a public company. Once China’s biggest property developer and worth over $50bn, its collapse under massive debt became a symbol of the country’s real estate crisis. Several other Chinese property firms are still facing major challenges. Earlier this month, China South City Holdings was recently ordered into liquidation and rival real estate giant Country Garden is trying to secure a deal with its creditors to write off more than $14bn of outstanding foreign debt. (BBC)
  
  

• Aussie Broadband was one of Monday’s standout performers, with its share price rocketing 19.7%. The surge came after the company upgraded its 2026 outlook, topping analyst forecasts, and announced a deal to sell Buddy Telco to Tangerine.(AFR)
  
  

• Santos, Australia’s second-largest gas producer, posted a 22.3% drop in first-half profit to $508m as weaker liquefied natural gas (LNG) and oil prices dented earnings. The result comes as the company faces an $18.7bn takeover bid from a group led by Abu Dhabi’s national oil company. It’s share price was up 1% on Monday. (Reuters)
  
  

• Endeavour Group, the owner of BWS and Dan Murphy’s, reported a $426m profit for FY25, missing expectations and marking a 15.8% drop from last year. Weaker liquor sales and supply chain disruptions hit performance. The stock dropped 1% on Monday and is down 20 per cent over the past 12 months. (Capital Brief)
  
  

• Adore Beauty’s strategic shift into physical retail is off to a strong start. The company has opened five stores this year with plans to operate more than 25 stores by 2027, and the early signs are that the move is paying off. Full-year earnings hit a record $4m, up nearly 75% on FY24. Shares jumped 11% on Monday. (AFR)
  
  

• Apple is believed to be in talks to use Google’s Gemini AI to overhaul it’s Siri voice assistant. The iPhone maker has fallen behind rivals like Google and Samsung, which have already rolled out advanced generative AI assistants across their devices. (Bloomberg)
  
  

• Keurig Dr Pepper is in advanced talks to acquire JDE Peet’s, the Amsterdam-based coffee group behind L’Or, Tassimo and Douwe Egberts, in a deal worth up to $18 bn. According to people familiar with the matter, the combined company would later separate its beverage and coffee divisions, effectively reversing the 2018 merger that formed Keurig Dr Pepper. (WSJ)
  
  

• HSBC’s Swiss private bank is cutting ties with over 1,000 wealthy clients from the Middle East, many of whom have assets over $100m. The move follows pressure from Swiss regulator Finma, which found the bank breached anti-money laundering rules and banned it from starting new relationships with politically exposed persons last year. (Financial Times)

  
  

• Private equity fundraising has fallen to its lowest level in seven years, with firms raising just $592bn in the year to June. High interest rates, weak deal flow and investor fatigue over long-held assets are weighing on the sector. Firms are reportable offering lower fees to attract capital, but investors remain cautious.(Financial Times)

What the…?

A 400-year-old Chinese cough syrup is winning over Gen Z Westerners.

Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa, a sticky herbal remedy, which has the colour and consistency of mud, is enjoying a renewed surge in popularity.

TikTok tutorials have racked up millions of views, Google searches spiked 25% last year, and celebs like Zayn Malik and Wicked’s Cynthia Erivo have sung its praises.

Sales reached 635m yuan ($88m) last year. (Economist)

Investing is a lifelong journey

Here’s what you can learn today.

Where do I start with insurance?

Community Question: I’m 21 and have absolutely no knowledge regarding insurance, where do I start?

We put this questions to Phil Thompson, Financial Adviser at Skye.

Starting with insurance at 21 is a smart move. You can start by understanding the basics of the 4 main types of insurance:

1. Death cover. Death cover provides financial support to your family or dependents in the event of death or diagnosis of a terminal illness. The payment helps your family repay debts, cover funeral expenses and replace lost income.

2. Total & Permanent Disability (TPD) Cover. If you become totally and permanently disabled and can’t work, TPD cover helps you pay off debts and medical expenses, make modifications to your home, and replace lost income.

3. Trauma or Critical Illness cover. Trauma insurance is paid if you get a diagnosis of a serious illness like cancer, heart attack or stroke. Put the focus on recovery and getting well – an immediate payment helps meet your financial commitments and medical costs.

4. Income Protection (or salary continuance). This insurance protects one of your biggest assets – your income. If you’re unable to work due to illness or injury, you’ll still receive a regular income to meet your financial commitments and living expenses.

All four of these insurances fall under the "life insurance" category because they protect you financially in the event of your death.

In your early 20s, it's a good idea to think about getting some type of personal insurance, like income protection. While you may not have any dependents yet, you do have financial responsibilities like rent and bills, however, your may not have any need for life insurance specifically if you do not have any debt or anyone depending on your financially.

Also keep in mind, given your age 25, your super fund will not automatically set any of this cover up on your behalf until you are age 25 years old, so it's worth considering when reviewing your finances.

Interested in speaking to a financial adviser? Fill out the form on our website and we’ll match you with one of our hand-picked advisers.

A message from Australian Property Scout

Join Sammy Gordon, Equity Mates’ go-to property expert, as he teams up with Jimmy Ibrahim to bust the biggest myths in property investing. From “rent money is dead money” to “buy and hold forever” and “debt is bad,” they separate fact from fiction and reveal what actually works in today’s market. Packed with practical insights and sharp commentary, this episode is the myth-busting wake-up call every investor needs.

Tune into the Scouting Australia Podcast on all your favourite platforms.

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