Alongside this week’s 0.25% interest rate cut from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), it noted that it expects to lower the cash rate “gradually”. Financial markets are currently tipping one more rate cut this year, followed by another in early 2026. This would take the official cash rate to 3.10%, 1.25% below its recent
Asian share markets were doing well until US Treasury Secretary Bessent stuck his foot in his mouth calling on the BOJ to lift rates while local markets surged on a stronger than expected July unemployment print. The USD is still losing out against most of the majors as Euro nearly lifts above the 1.17 handle
This is an important story. The Australian. The US Defence Department is aiming to integrate Australia and other Asian allies into a stronger collective defence framework focused on deterring Beijing and safeguarding Taiwan, warning that partners in the Indo-Pacific must not “sit back while the Europeans are stepping up.” As Canberra and Washington prepare to
The Housing Industry Association (HIA) has launched a preemptive attack on moves to curb investor tax concessions, such as negative gearing and the 50% capital gains tax (CGT) discount. Chief economist Tim Reardon claimed that “investors are vital to the goal of increasing housing stock”, claiming that “investors typically supply around a third of all
Thank god, other states are fighting off Victoria disease. A controversial plan to stave off looming east coast gas shortfalls by underwriting new LNG import terminals has been indefinitely delayed as interstate disagreements and a broader overhaul of the market could push back the need for overseas sources. The Victorian-led proposal, which has yet to
The August Statement of Monetary Policy (SoMP) from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), released on Tuesday, forecast that the unemployment rate would decline back to 4.2% before rising gradually to 4.3% over the forward estimates. Today, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released the July Labour Force survey, which posted a bounce back in
At the end of 2024, CoreLogic (now Cotality) estimated that Australians were paying a record percentage of their income to rent the median property. According to Cotality’s most recent quarterly rental report, national median rents have risen by 43% over the last five years, causing the average tenant household to pay an additional $10,350 per
The robots are all in on the AI bubble, but humans are not. The Market Ear. Much more room Equity allocation according to FMS has risen, but we are way below extreme levels. Source: BofA Still depressed Goldman’s equity sentiment indicator of positioning remains depressed. Source: GS Refusing Non dealers continue to refuse buying the
Last week, the ABC reported that within the Albanese government there were two very different approaches to the productivity round table scheduled for later this month. “One camp doubts that a cautious Albanese has much inclination to take on a controversial new policy—and questions whether “consensus” can be achieved with business and unions appearing poles
The ferrous complex continues on its merry seasonal way. We ought to be near some kind of top here. The price is high enough to draw Indian ore back into the seaborne market, which will immediately have to be pushed back out again once Simandou starts up in November. The seasonal patterns, which are very