Weekly economic and market update – week ending 24 May, 2024

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Investment markets and key developments Major share markets were flat to down over the last week as uncertainty returned around the timing of interest rate cuts after hawkish minutes from... Read more continue reading

RBA: patience through the “noise” or waiting for Godot I

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No real surprises from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) May Board meeting minutes. Governor Michele Bullock had already let it be known that the Board debate was one of... Read more continue reading

The next move in the RBA cash rate likely remains down later this year

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Key points While the near-term risks for the RBA cash rate are probably on the upside, the most likely scenario is that the RBA holds rates ahead of rate cuts... Read more continue reading

Weekly economic and market update – week ending 10 May, 2024

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Investment markets and key developments Global shares rose again over the last week, helped by ongoing confidence that major central banks are on track to cut rates this year and... Read more continue reading

RBA: hawk eye!

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As was largely expected, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Board decided to leave the policy rate unchanged at 4.35 per cent. However, I would be surprised if the option... Read more continue reading

Seasonal patterns in shares – should we “sell in May and go away”?

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Key points Seasonal patterns in shares gave rise to the saying “sell in May and go away, buy again on St Leger’s Day.” However, seasonal patterns can’t always be relied... Read more continue reading

Weekly economic and market update, week ending 3 May 2024

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Investment markets and key developments Global shares were mixed over the last week. US shares fell on concerns about slowing growth and delayed Fed rate cuts despite good earnings and... Read more continue reading

The Fed less hawkish than feared and upcoming US April non-farm payrolls

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As was universally expected the Federal Reserve (Fed) left the policy rate target unchanged at 5.25-5.5 per cent. In so doing the Fed acknowledged that inflation had been a little... Read more continue reading

The art of happiness – economics and the “hedonic treadmill”  

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Key points Despite a big rise in GDP per person, surveyed measures of happiness have been flat to falling in the US and Australia. Younger people in the US, Canada,... Read more continue reading

Weekly economic and market update – week ending 26 April, 2024

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Investment markets and key developments Global shares rose over the last week recovering some of their losses from prior weeks helped by no further escalation in the Israel/Iran conflict and... Read more continue reading