liveLive updates: Microsoft signs AI deal with ACTU, ASX to rise after Wall Street slidesBy business reporter Emilia TerzonTopic:Stock Market43m ago43 minutes agoWed 14 Jan 2026 at 8:46pmSkip to timelineThe ASX is set to marginally rise on Thursday after Wall Street slid for a second day. Markets are still digesting geopolitical uncertainty, with gold and oil prices impacted.Meanwhile, Australia's peak union body has signed a deal with tech giant Microsoft it says will help safeguard workers' rights during the AI transition. Follow the day's financial news and insights from our specialist business reporters on our live blog.Disclaimer: this blog is not intended as investment advice.Key EventsACTU signs AI deal with Microsoft48m ago48 minutes agoWed 14 Jan 2026 at 8:41pmSubmit a comment or question Log in to commentLive updatesLatestOldestPinned32m agoWed 14 Jan 2026 at 8:57pmMarket snapshotEBy Emilia TerzonASX 200 futures: +0.1% Australian dollar: flat to 66.83 US centsWall Street: Dow Jones (-0.8%), S&P 500 (-0.2%)Europe: FTSE (+0.5%) DAX (-0.5%) Spot gold: +0.7% to $US4,634/ounceOil (Brent crude): -2.3% at $US64.07/barrelBitcoin: +3.4% to $US97,534Price current around 8:00am AEDTLive updates on the major ASX indices: 20m agoWed 14 Jan 2026 at 9:09pmHave Australian renters finally reached their limit?EBy Emilia TerzonThat's what analysts at property website Domain think. Its latest report on Australia's rental market suggests rents are flattening because people simply can't pay anymore.It has found prices are flat in some Australian capital cities."The rental growth is hitting a speed limit," Domain's chief of research and economics, Nicola Powell, told the ABC."We have seen several years of extreme rates of rental growth and that there is an affordability ceiling."36m agoWed 14 Jan 2026 at 8:53pmANZ continues to back RBA rate hikeEBy Emilia TerzonCBA's morning currency notes are always interesting. Today's notes that the AUD has slipped again against the greenback and is below 67 US cents again.The bank's analysts note that "Australia‑US monetary policy divergence will favour a stronger AUD/USD in the near term". It means interest rates and the bank is still backing a call that they'll go up next month."We continue to expect a 25bp rate hike from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) in February, which is only about 25% priced," they say."The upcoming December labour force survey, and more importantly, Q4 2025 CPI, can provide catalysts for a hawkish repricing of RBA policy and a lift in AUD/USD."The cash rate's currently at 3.6%.Key Event48m agoWed 14 Jan 2026 at 8:41pmACTU signs AI deal with MicrosoftEBy Emilia TerzonAustralia's peak union body has signed a deal with tech giant Microsoft that the ACTU says will help safeguard workers' rights during the AI revolution.It comes amid concerns about how people's roles will be protected or lost, thanks to AI, and the ethical ramifications of fast-moving technology.The ACTU says:"Microsoft has committed to include mechanisms to elevate workers’ voices in decision making, formal knowledge sharing during the development and deployment of new and existing AI products. Microsoft has also pledged to respect the rights of creative and media workers and the vital role they play in Australian society, culture and democracy."Meanwhile, Microsoft has also put out a press release quoting Australian & NZ VP Steven Miller:"Australians deserve AI that helps people thrive. This agreement signals our commitment to ensure workers' voices are at the heart of Australia's AI transformation and no-one is left out of the national opportunity this technology presents. We’re proud to come together with the ACTU to set a new standard for responsible AI diffusion across Australian workplaces."We'll bring you more details soon.1h agoWed 14 Jan 2026 at 8:24pmASX to slightly rise after Wall Street slipsEBy Emilia TerzonGood morning! Emilia here with you for the next few hours.This is what futures in the ASX 200 are currently showing, hinting at another flat or uncertain day of trade here.(Refinitiv)That's after Wall Street indexes slid for a second consecutive day, with investors weighing political and geopolitical uncertainty. Gold and oil prices are inflating as major unrest in Iran continues.Banks ended lower in the US, despite earnings releases showing three of the largest have been raking in higher profits, as they hand out credit to households and businesses.We'll be here all day. Anything you'd like looked at?Reporting with Reuters