International News 19 February 2026
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Australia Wage Growth Steady at 3.4% as RBA Weighs Inflation Risks
Australia’s wage growth remained moderate in the fourth quarter of 2025, with the wage price index rising 0.8% in the December quarter—unchanged from the previous quarter and in line with expectations, according to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Annual wage growth edged up to 3.4% from a revised 3.3%, staying within a narrow 3.2%–3.6% range for six consecutive quarters. Private-sector wages increased 3.4%, while public-sector pay climbed 4.0%, the fastest pace since mid-2024, driven largely by government-funded pay rises in healthcare and childcare. However, with consumer inflation at 3.8% in December, real wages technically declined, although broader measures such as national accounts compensation—up 7.1% year-on-year in the third quarter—suggest stronger overall household income growth. The data carries important implications for monetary policy. Stronger domestic demand has been one factor behind the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) raising its benchmark interest rate to 3.85% earlier this month. The central bank has signaled that broader labor cost indicators point to tighter labor market conditions than reflected in the wage index alone, potentially adding to inflationary pressures. Markets now price in roughly a 60% chance of another rate hike to 4.10% at the RBA’s May meeting, underscoring the policy dilemma of balancing resilient economic growth against persistent inflation risks.
Berkshire Hathaway Reveals Stake in The New York Times Amid Leadership Transition
Berkshire Hathaway, the conglomerate founded by legendary investor Warren Buffett, disclosed a new investment in The New York Times, marking its return to the media sector after exiting the newspaper business in 2020. According to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Berkshire held approximately 5.07 million NYT shares valued at US$351.7 million as of year-end 2025. Following the announcement, New York Times shares rose 4% to US$76.99 in after-hours trading. In the fourth quarter, Berkshire also reduced its stake in Apple Inc. by 4%, though Apple remains its largest equity holding at around US$62 billion, and cut 77% of its roughly 10 million shares in Amazon.com. The investment comes during a leadership transition, as Buffett stepped down as CEO after 60 years at the helm, with Greg Abel assuming the role on January 1 while Buffett remains chairman. It remains unclear whether the NYT investment decision was made by Buffett, Abel, or portfolio manager Ted Weschler, while Todd Combs departed in December to join JPMorgan Chase. Historically, Berkshire’s investments have been viewed as a “stamp of approval” from Buffett, often boosting share prices, though it is uncertain whether that effect will persist under Abel’s leadership. Alongside the NYT stake, Berkshire increased holdings in Chevron and Chubb, trimmed positions in Aon and Bank of America, and continued to show caution on valuations, refraining from share buybacks for over a year and avoiding major acquisitions in the past decade.
Japan’s Exports Surge 16.8% in January, Narrowing Trade Deficit
Japan’s exports rose for a fifth consecutive month in January, climbing 16.8% year-on-year—well above the 12% median market forecast and sharply higher than December’s 5.1% increase. The strong performance suggests resilient global demand continues to support Japan’s fragile economic recovery, despite recent data showing the economy barely expanded in the fourth quarter due to weak exports and capital spending. Shipments to China jumped 32%, boosted by stronger pre–Lunar New Year demand, while exports to the United States fell 5% compared with a year earlier. Imports, meanwhile, declined 2.5% year-on-year, defying expectations for a 3% increase. As a result, Japan posted a trade deficit of 1.15 trillion yen (about US$7.51 billion) in January—significantly narrower than the projected 2.14 trillion yen shortfall. Although exports had previously been weighed down by U.S. tariffs, including a 15% baseline tariff agreed in September, the recovery remains delicate. Looking ahead, analysts expect domestic factors such as private consumption and continued wage growth to provide additional support to the economy amid rising living costs.