Here’s 5 things making news on the ASX200 this Tuesday, 13 December.

1. Australian shares open higher

The S&P/ASX200 has followed Wall Street higher on Tuesday ahead of a big week for global central banks, with policy decisions from the U.S. Federal Reserve, the Bank of England, and European Central Bank to come later this week.

2. U.S. inflation update

The U.S. will release its November consumer price index (CPI) around midnight Australian time, with economists at AMP chief economist Shane Oliver forecasting a further moderation in inflation.

The U.S. CPI data is set to drop at 12:30am Wednesday AEDT.

3. CSL announces new CEO

Narrow-moat CSL has appointed a new chief executive, with Paul Perreault to step down after more than a decade in the role.

Dr Paul McKenzie, CSL’s current chief operating officer, will step into the top job in March 2023.

4. Consumer sentiment recovers from record lows

After collapsing to one of the weakest levels outside of a recession during November, consumer sentiment has improved.  

Westpac’s monthly consumer sentiment index lifted 3% to 80.3 in December. A read below 100 indicates pessimists outweigh optimists.

Bill Evans, chief economist at Westpac says households are feeling more optimistic now the bulk of the RBA’s rate hikes are behind us, although inflation and the state of the economy remain key concerns.

5. Business confidence turns negative 

Business confidence fell into negative territory for the first time since December 2021, the latest NAB business survey has found.

But NAB chief economist Alan Oster says conditions have continued to hold up across states and territories.

“With activity holding up there are few signs of any turnaround in inflation, with cost growth largely unchanged at elevated levels on both the labour and purchase cost side, and retail prices continuing to rise at a rapid rate,” Mr Oster said.

He said the gap between current business conditions and business confidence is now at a record level in the history of the survey – with the exception of March 2020.

“Overall, the survey highlights a growing concern that the economy’s strength over 2022 is set to come to an end as we enter 2023, and forward orders have softened from +14 in September to +5 in November, reflecting a more uncertain outlook,” Mr Oster said.