Here’s what you need to know today

• A report released by REA Group and Commonwealth Bank found that a typical first-home buying household could only afford to purchase 17% of properties sold last year in Australia. This is the lowest level going back to 1995 to when the report was first released (ABC News)
  
  

• Surprisingly, the same report found that New South Wales is only the second worst state to save for a 20% deposit (calculated with average incomes and average house prices). In NSW it would take 6.9 years to save for a 20% deposit. In South Australia, it would be 7.2 years. The best state by this metric is Western Australia, at 4.5 years. (ABC News)
  
  

• Collins Food, the KFC franchisee that runs 288 of the 800 KFC outlets in Australia reported a strong set of results and shares jumped 12%. Same store sales in the past 4 months were up 2.3% year-on-year. In Germany, where the company has plans to open up to 70 KFC stores, same-store sales were up 5.8% in the past 18 weeks. (AFR)
  
  

• One of KFC’s fast-casual rivals is looking to expand aggressively. El Jannah, the Lebanese charcoal chicken chain, has reportedly called in investment bankers to help it find a partner to expand from 50 restaurants to 70 by the end of the financial year and ultimately to more than 500 over time. (AFR)
  
  

• El Jannah isn’t the only Australian food chain looking to grow. Reports are rival Japanese chains Sushi Sushi and Sushi Hub are both looking to raise money as is frozen yogurt chain Yo-Chi. With the success of Guzman Y Gomez’s public listing earlier this year, rival fast-casual chains appear to be capitalising on the momentum. (AFR)
  
  

• Alphabet shares hit record highs, up 9%, after a US Court ruled that the company does not need to be broken up, despite losing an antitrust case that found the search giant was operating an illegal monopoly. (Forbes)
  
  

• American apparel brand American Eagle has shared its first trading update since launching its viral ‘Sydney Sweeney has great jeans’ marketing campaign. Shares were up more than 20% after hours after the company reported sales for the quarter were down 1%, not great, but better than what was expected. (CNN)
  
  

• US President Donald Trump acknowledged the US may have to unwind trade deals with the EU, Japan and South Korea if a court ruling that found these tariffs illegal stands. The President confirmed he would be asking the Supreme Court to reverse the ruling. (Reuters)

What the…?

Could your gut feeling be a glimpse into the future? Scientists are seriously exploring whether gut feelings could actually be the mind sensing events ahead of time.

Experiments have found subtle changes in brain activity seconds before people are shown emotional images, suggesting the mind might sense events ahead of time. Supporters point to consistent results across studies and even declassified CIA research as evidence that precognition deserves serious attention.

Skeptics remain unconvinced, but the idea that consciousness can bend time is gaining traction in some scientific circles. (Popular Mechanics)

Investing is a lifelong journey

Here’s what you can learn today.

Compounding rewards the early movers

Community Question: What is one thing your clients often get wrong when they’re in their 30’s, that they’re coming to you for help with? (Darcy, via email)

We put this questions to Dylan Pargiter-Green, Director and Financial Adviser at Bold Wealth.

They don't start early enough. The biggest thing that people say when they come to us in their 50s or 60s is, “gee, I wish I had met you ten years ago”. The sooner you start, the smaller the things are that you need to do, to get to the larger position later on. It's really simple.

It always goes back to that very, very basic concept of compounding. It's like, well, if you start putting $100 a week away now, it’ll save you needing to put $2000 a week in 20 years time, just to catch up.

So yes, it's starting early, not being afraid to jump into something that's a little bit uncertain as well.

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 Ausbil

From 8 September 2025, the Ausbil Active Dividend Income strategy will be made available as an active ETF,  giving investors and advisers dual access to its Active Dividend Income strategy.

ASX: DIVI, an actively managed ETF, holds between 25 and 50 listed companies, which Ausbil believes support consistent franking credits for investors that grow with inflation over time. It provides regular monthly income drawn from dividends of Australian companies, whilst aiming to protect investors’ capital against inflation.

Disclaimer: Offer is subject to disclaimer on registration page. Ausbil Investment Management Limited ABN 26 076 316 743 AFSL 229722.

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