🦘 Gender Pay Gap Data Released, Bitcoin Skyrockets To New Yearly High, Albo's Supermarket Quest Continues

G’day everyone!

Here’s what we’ve got in store for you today:

• Huge Findings On The Gender Pay Gap

• Bitcoin Rallies To New Yearly High

• Albo’s Supermarket Quest Continues

Let’s have a look at the market snapshot before jumping into the news:

Aussie Gals Earning $18K Less: The Gender Pay Gap Exposé

It's 2024, and Aussie women are still getting shortchanged!

The latest scoop from the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) reveals that the median Australian woman earns a staggering $18,461 less than the median male.

That's a hefty 19% less cash in the purse. 

Virgin Australia and Qantas are flying high on the list of shame with gender pay gaps of 41.7% and 37%, respectively. The big banks aren't much better, with CBA leading the pack with a 29.9% gap.

Despite some companies trying to portray themselves as champions of gender equality (looking at you, Mecca and Lorna Jane), their paychecks tell a different story.

Mecca's male median earners pocket 10.3% more than their female counterparts, and Lorna Jane's blokes earn a whopping one-third more.

The report isn't just about naming and shaming; it's a call to action.

WGEA's Mary Wooldridge is on a mission to shake things up, urging more men to join traditionally female-dominated sectors and vice versa.

Bitcoin's Bull Run: Hitting $57K USD and Counting

Cryptocurrency enthusiasts, rejoice!

Bitcoin's on a tear, smashing past $57,000 and clocking in its biggest rally this year. 

But wait, there's more – ether's not far behind, breaking the $3,200 mark for the first time since the crypto glory days of 2022.

What's fueling this digital gold rush?

Big buyers like MicroStrategy are snapping up bitcoins, and the U.S. has given the nod to bitcoin-owning ETFs, adding some serious fuel to the fire.

With the bitcoin halving event just around the corner in April (a fancy way of saying the reward for mining new bitcoins is about to get halved), the supply's tightening but the demand? Through the roof.

Bitcoin's up a whopping 32% this month alone, and social media giant Reddit's even thrown some of its cash reserves into the crypto pot.

Ether's not far behind with a 41% gain, as whispers of a possible spot ether ETF approval stir the pot even more.

The crypto market's maturing, and with big names like Coinbase and Marathon Digital riding the wave, it's clear: the crypto craze is far from over.

Albo's Supermarket Saga: Shaking Up the Grocery Game

PM Anthony Albanese is tossing his hat into the grocery ring, backing the idea of a new supermarket contender to take on the Coles and Woolworths stronghold.

The dynamic duo currently dominating the Aussie grocery scene might have to scooch over, as Albo points out their "excessive market power" amidst a cost-of-living crunch.

The buzz comes as the Senate inquiry, kicked off last December, puts the spotlight on potential "price gouging" and the not-so-sweet deal consumers are getting at checkout.

Albanese is not about to wield the breakup hammer on Coles and Woolies but is keen on enticing fresh faces into the market.

He's eyeing strategies to curb the "landbanking" antics that block newbies from setting up shop.

With at least three probes into the grocery giants underway, it's clear the government is on a mission to stir up competition, aiming for happier wallets at the supermarket aisle.

Despite Woolies and Coles pledging their commitment to easing household budget strains, the proof, as they say, will be in the pudding (or in this case, the price tags).

HECS-HELP Shake-Up: A Budget Breather for Grads

Education Minister Jason Clare's dropping hints that uni grads could soon see a sweet reduction in their HECS-HELP repayments, potentially saving up to a grand a year!

This teaser comes hot off the press from an independent uni review, suggesting it's time to revamp the "outdated" loan scheme.

With the May Federal Budget on the horizon, Clare's talkin' about tweaking the system to ease the financial squeeze on grads, especially those starting at a $75,000 salary.

Currently, the HECS-HELP system defers study costs until grads hit a $51,550 salary.

But with annual indexation potentially inflating loan balances before payments kick in, students are feeling the pinch.

The review's rallying for a change in indexation timing, hoping to halt ballooning loan amounts and keep higher education appetizing for potential students amidst soaring living costs.

Clare's playing it cool, saying these recommendations are bigger than one budget, but the wheels are turning.

With a focus on helping low-income earners and tackling the cost-of-living crisis, the government's gearing up for some potential policy shifts that could leave grads a bit more cashed up.

That’s All!

If you’ve read all the way up to here, we just wanted to let you know that you’re an absolute legend!

Time to go to work and show off how clued up you are about what’s going on in the business world 💪

Keep an eye out for tomorrow's newsletter. Until then, have an awesome day folks!