The latest jobs figures are out, and the result wasn’t quite what economists had expected.

While unemployment has climbed again, the economy is still adding jobs, giving the RBA plenty to consider ahead of next week’s interest rate decision.

The central bank has already lifted rates three times this year, with another increase widely expected on Tuesday.

So, could today’s jobs data give the RBA a reason to hold off?

More jobs, but unemployment keeps climbing

According to the ABS release, the unemployment rate rose to 4.6% in August, up from 4.5% in July.

The number of unemployed Australians increased by 28,200 to approximately 722,900, despite the economy adding 39,500 jobs during the month.

The increase in employment came entirely from part-time work, which jumped by 45,800 positions. Full-time employment fell by 6,300.

The participation rate also climbed from 66.9% to 67.1%, meaning more Australians were either working or actively looking for a job.

There were some encouraging signs, though, with total hours worked increasing 0.7% and the underemployment rate easing slightly to 6.2%.

Will the RBA change its mind?

With the cash rate currently at 4.35%, another 25-basis-point increase on Tuesday would take it to 4.60%.

Speaking at a CEDA event earlier this week, RBA Governor Michele Bullock said unemployment between 4.5% and 5% would probably help ease inflation pressures.

However, Bullock wasn’t giving anything away about next week’s decision.

She also pointed to elevated oil prices, excess demand and inflation expectations as continuing concerns for the central bank.

At the same time, financial markets were pricing in a 95% chance of another rate hike ahead of today’s employment report.

The RBA has also acknowledged that previous interest rate increases are yet to have their full effect on the economy. It said it expects unemployment to continue rising gradually.

What happens next?

The RBA will have to make Tuesday’s decision without another inflation reading.

August’s consumer price index isn’t due until Wednesday, 30 September, a day after the board meets. The next jobs report won’t arrive until 15 October.

In its August forecasts, the RBA expected unemployment to reach 4.6% by June 2027 and 4.8% by mid 2028.

It also expects inflation to return to the midpoint of its target range in early 2028.

With unemployment climbing, I think the RBA has more reason to leave rates at 4.35%. However, another increase wouldn’t surprise me given its ongoing concerns about inflation.

We’ll find out at 2.30pm AEST on Tuesday, 29 September.

The post Unemployment hits 4.6%. Could the RBA hold off on another rate hike? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Myer Holdings Ltd (ASX: MYR) shares have fallen around 2% to a multi-year low of 17 cents a piece, at the time of writing.

This is the lowest price the stock has traded at since April 2020.

The shares are now down 64% year to date and 63% lower than 12 months ago.

It’s been a pretty consistent tumble, too.

The shares hovered around an annual high of 49 cents between October last year and January. But then they fell by around 53% into late May. There was a brief rebound through June before the share price resumed its downward trend.

What has happened to Myer shares?

The company faced operational issues and profitability headwinds in late 2025. And investor confidence only fell further this year.

As a fashion retail stock, Myer shares have been heavily affected by key 2026 themes of market volatility, high inflation, and interest rate fears. A higher cost-of-living has meant Australians have been tightening their purse strings and are spending less on discretionary items.

The retailer posted solid first-half financial results in March, suggesting that the business has its operating costs under control and that its strategic initiatives are gaining traction. But investors weren’t convinced.

In an update to the market in late July, the company confirmed that cost-of-living pressures and challenging trading conditions had flowed through to its bottom line. Myer reported total sales for the financial year to the end of June of $4.089 billion, up 11.3%.

At the time, the company said that it expects to report operating gross profit for the full year in the range of $1.601 to $1.607 billion.

Myer posted its FY26 results yesterday, confirming that operating gross profit came within the guided range at $1.603 billion for the 12 months to the 25th of July. Reported total sales climbed 0.7% to $4.09 billion, from FY 2025 on a comparable basis.

But management also announced a 7% decline in its underlying EBIT on an actual basis, and 23.5% lower on a pro forma basis. The store also reported a 2.9% drop in underlying NPAT on an actual basis, and a 32.1% decline on a pro forma basis.

The board also decided not to pay shareholders a final dividend for FY26.

Myer shares initially leapt higher immediately following the results announcement, but closed the day flat. 

Today, more investors have sold up their holdings.

Can the shares rebound from here?

Despite the strong headwinds this year, experts seem confident that Myer shares can recover some of their losses over the next 12 months.

TradingView data shows the majority (four out of five) brokers have a strong buy rating on the consumer discretionary shares. Another one has a hold rating.

They all agree there will be some element of upside ahead. The average 38.5-cent target price implies a 119% potential upside over the next 12 months at the time of writing. And some more bullish brokers think the shares have the potential to rebound 214% to 55 cents a piece. 

The post Down 64%: Has the market lost interest in Myer shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Myer. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The latest Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL), or Soul Patts, has just announced its dividend for its FY26 results.

It may not have the biggest dividend yield on the ASX, but the investment conglomerate has been incredibly consistent for shareholders.

Soul Patts has rewarded shareholders with another good dividend increase, to add to the payout growth the company has already delivered this decade.

Let’s take a look at what the next payout will be for investors.

Soul Patts dividend

The board of directors declared a final dividend of 63 cents per share, representing a year-over-year increase of 6.8%.

This brought the full-year dividend per share to $1.11, an increase of 7.8% from FY25.

A key driver of the company’s dividend is its net cash flow from investments (NCFI). The NCFI increased 11.5% to $572 million, driven by credit (a larger credit book and strong results), private companies (continued cash generation) and real assets (industrial property). On a per-share basis, NCFI increased by 8.3% year-over-year. So, the company has passed on nearly all of the NCFI increase to shareholders in the form of a higher dividend.

Soul Patts revealed that the FY26 annual dividend is 73% of NCFI, which is both rewarding and sustainable for shareholders.

Its annual dividend has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.4% over the last five years. Impressively, the business has raised its regular annual dividend for the last 28 years, with dividend growth at a 10.4% CAGR.

At the time of writing, the annual dividend of $1.11 equates to a grossed-up dividend yield of 3.4%, including franking credits, at the time of writing.

When will this be paid?

The business has only just announced the dividend, but it won’t be long before the company pays it out to investors.

Before we get to the payment date, we need to look at the ex-dividend date. That’s the cut-off date for entitlement to this payment.

Soul Patts has stated that the ex-dividend date is Monday, 12 October 2026, which is less than three weeks away. That means investors need to own Soul Patts shares by the end of trading on Friday, 9 October 2026, to be entitled to this dividend.

Following that, the payment date for the final dividend is 5 November 2026.

Shareholders can also decide to receive new Soul Patts shares rather than cash as their dividend, if they take part in the dividend re-investment plan (DRP). Investors need to elect to join the DRP by 5pm on 14 October 2026.

The post Everything you need to know about the Soul Patts dividend appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.