The Central Bank Dilemma
Kardinia Capital looks at why Jerome Powell’s re-election as Federal Reserve chair late last year was a relief to investors, but a few short months later his credibility is now on the line.
Read MoreKardinia Capital looks at why Jerome Powell’s re-election as Federal Reserve chair late last year was a relief to investors, but a few short months later his credibility is now on the line.
Read MoreFed chair Jay Powell has once again given financial markets what they have been demanding, but not wanting – a promise to lift rates faster to control inflation.
Read MoreGlobal markets and economies will have to endure 30 nervous days to see if Russia finally defaults on the $US117 million interest payments due on two of its foreign bonds.
Read MoreNot unexpectedly Australian unemployment fell to its lowest level on record last month as the economy continued to rebound from the impact of Covid Omicron.
Read MoreThe first era of quantitative tightening fizzled. Magellan Investment Specialist Michael Collins wonders if asset-selling – aka money destroying – can help fight inflation this time?
Read MoreAs widely anticipated, the US Fed raised rates by 25 basis points overnight, but market sentiment was helped by conciliatory statements from China on market stability and listing rules.
Read MoreWhile an 0.25% rate rise by the US Fed is almost a foregone conclusion, there’s a decent chance that by the time you are reading this Russia will officially be in default on its debts.
Read MoreAsian equity markets continued to tumble as investors chose to look beyond some OK economic numbers from China and focus on another worrying jump in the country’s Covid cases.
Read MoreStand by for an imminent flood of downgrades and other ratings changes linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine from the big three ratings agencies – S&P Global, Moody’s and Fitch.
Read MoreIn his Insights Column this week, AMP’s Dr Shane Oliver looks at what the 30%+ surge in global oil prices following the start of the war in Ukraine might mean for local and global markets.
Read MoreUS consumer price inflation hit a new four-decade high in February, locking in the first rate rise for years next week from the Federal Reserve with at least two more increases to come this year.
Read MoreGovernor Philip Lowe has made it clear the RBA will not be coerced into lifting interest rates by calls from talking heads or the economics departments of the major banks.
Read MoreThe Australian economy has shaken off Covid Omicron, with business conditions and confidence strengthening in February, according to the latest survey from the National Australia Bank.
Read MoreChina’s export and import growth slowed noticeably over January and February as Covid outbreaks, surging commodity prices and the rise of tensions in Ukraine each took their toll.
Read MoreOn top of the continuing impact on markets of the Ukraine crisis, investors will also have to deal with the almost certain US rate rise late this week, as well as fresh US inflation data.
Read MoreIf China’s 2022 economic targets are any guide, the country is looking at a year of slowing growth, rising inflation and plenty of government spending to stop the economy stumbling into stagflation.
Read MoreFebruary’s jobs report has confirmed the health of the US economy – even if inflation remains a major concern – and markets seem to have accepted the looming rate rise and a few more to come.
Read MoreMarket forecasts of around $A9b for Australia’s trade surplus in January missed the mark completely – in fact they were not even in the same ballpark as the almost $13b reported figure.
Read MoreBuilding approvals fell sharply in January as semi-lockdowns and restrictions allied with the normal summer holiday slowed the approvals process at local and metro governments.
Read MoreAustralian consumers spent heavily coming out of the Covid Delta lockdowns in the last quarter of 2021 and dragged the economy to a very solid 4.2% rise in annual GDP for 2021.
Read MoreThe RBA kept monetary policy unchanged at its March meeting on Tuesday, with the cash rate remaining fixed at 0.1%, but is keeping a close eye on the Ukraine crisis for potential economic fallout.
Read MoreRetail sales bounced in January, rising 1.8% in seasonally adjusted terms, but that still left them well adrift of December’s huge 4.4% slump.
Read MoreA hectic week ahead for the Australian economy with the RBA policy meeting tomorrow and the latest economic growth data the day after, along with the usual raft of monthly figures over the remainder.
Read MoreInvestors now expect the US Federal Reserve to lift rates at its March meeting after consumer prices rose at an annual 7.5% rate in January – the fastest in 40 years.
Read MoreContrasting moves in January, according to the National Australia Bank’s latest survey of the economy, which saw a rise in confidence despite business conditions deteriorating further.
Read MoreAnecdotal reports from the companies Pengana Capital follows indicate differing impacts from rising prices—and offer a few clues to where inflation is headed.
Read MoreOn paper the very strong January jobs report from the US was just as confusing as the weak readings for December and January had been, and it caught economists out again.
Read MoreIn this week’s Insights column, AMP’s Dr Shane Oliver runs through the current state of play at the Reserve Bank and the implications of policy moves for local markets.
Read MoreMore evidence of the two-faced nature of the Australian economy, with a robust trade account being offset by weak domestic conditions, particularly in housing approvals.
Read MoreInvestors Mutual’s Anton Tagliaferro takes an in-depth look at interest rates, how they are set to affect markets in 2022, and how IML is preparing their portfolios in response.
Read MoreNew Zealand currently finds itself in the grip of high inflation, low unemployment and rising interest rates because of increasing cost pressures and still-too-high house prices.
Read MoreInvestors Mutual Portfolio Manager Daniel Moore discusses with Head of Retail Wayne McGauley how the prospect of rising interest rates is affecting markets.
Read MoreThe RBA left interest rates steady and made it clear it will not be forced into lifting them by the current rise in inflation despite confirming the end of its QE campaign on Feb 10.
Read MoreThe Reserve Bank obviously didn’t find anything to ‘scare the horses’ in yesterday’s start of the month economic data ahead of its first monetary policy meeting for the year.
Read MoreTwo reports show the pace of economic activity across China slowed noticeably in January ahead of the Lunar New Year break starting tomorrow and the 2022 Winter Olympics starting Friday.
Read MoreThis week should see investors fully up to date on what the RBA thinks happened in the Australian economy over the holiday break and the likely path for the early months of 2022.
Read MoreDoes anybody truly believe that interest rate rises in Australia will have any impact on oil and petrol prices except to increase the cost of living for millions of people?
Read MoreThe US economy grew faster than forecast in the December quarter and for 2021 as a whole, but that failed to hold the attention of Wall Street investors who continued to sell.
Read MoreUS markets look like getting what they have demanded – a rate rise from the Federal Reserve at its March meeting.
Read MoreInflation rose more sharply than forecast as business conditions and confidence eased in December, with the latter due to the rolling impact of Covid omicron on employment.
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