Weekly economic and market update – week ending 21 August, 2026

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Investment markets and key developments After record highs in US and European shares a week ago, global shares pulled back in the last week reflecting concerns about rising bond yields,... Read more continue reading

New home sales decline for the third consecutive month

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“Sales of new homes declined for a third consecutive month in July, falling by 3.7 per cent as higher interest rates and policy uncertainty continued to weigh on consumer confidence,”... Read more continue reading

Weekly economic and market update – week ending 14 August, 2026

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Investment markets and key developments Global share markets mostly rose over the last week helped by good earnings results and some moderation in expectations for Fed rate hikes. US and... Read more continue reading

US inflation: nothing for the worry Warshs  

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Since the conclusion of the last Fed Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, the US financial market commentariat have spent some time highlighting Fed Chair Warsh’s communication shortcomings. It appears... Read more continue reading

Weekly economic and market update – week ending 31 July, 2026

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Investment markets and key developments Share markets were mixed over the last week helped by some pull back in oil prices as the US held back from escalting further with... Read more continue reading

The economics of happiness – why it’s been falling and what to do about it?

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Key points Despite rising GDP per person, measures of happiness have been flat to falling in western countries including Australia. Key drivers are likely to be rising expectations, the rise... Read more continue reading

Weekly economic and market update – week ending 24 July, 2026

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Investment markets and key developments Global shares came under pressure again over the last week as the Iran War escalated further with Trump talking of a “massive attack”, oil prices... Read more continue reading

Nine key charts for investors to keep an eye on amidst oil and AI worries

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Key points The first half of this year saw good share market returns despite the oil supply shock on the back of the US/Iran War. We remain upbeat on a... Read more continue reading

Weekly economic and market update – week ending 17 July, 2026

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Investment markets and key developments Global shares were mostly softer over the last week as the Iran War escalated again with oil prices up and worries remained around AI related... Read more continue reading

Inflation and the “new” Fed: livin’ under Kevin

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The financial market commentariat would have us believe that Federal Reserve Chair Warsh’s Congressional testimony was “hawkish”. Fair enough! Despite a benign June consumer price index (CPI) report and last night’s benign producer price... Read more continue reading