The central bank circus: high wire acts?

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There seems to be ongoing indications of “last mile” complications in getting inflation back to target in a number of “Anglo” economies. At the same time, labour markets are showing

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Whither 60/40? What comes next?

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The 60/40 portfolio isn’t dead, but is it evolving, and will look different in the future according to GSFM investment strategist Stephen Miller.  He says it is time to consider

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The Fed: certain uncertainty

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As expected, The Federal Reserve’s FOMC lowered the policy rate by 25bps to a target range of 4-4¼ per cent. The decision clearly reflected greater emphasis on the labour market

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The Fed: laboured

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Clearly a notable feature of recent US economic data has been the revelation that the US labour market is not only softening but hasn’t been in as good a health

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Fed: probably a September cut but…does it matter?

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Inflation good enough and labour market softening but ‘stagflation-lite’ environment still a key risk. The US July consumer price index (CPI) report points to ongoing “stickiness” in inflation but absent

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The Fed: not yet maybe later…

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As had been almost universally expected, the Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) overnight announced that it had kept the policy rate unchanged in the 4.25-4.5 per cent range.

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Greens shoots for global equity markets despite Trump 2.0 and a slowing US economy

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Trump 2.0 remains the focal point as markets head into the second half of 2025. There is greater clarity around the implication of the US administration’s policies on markets, and

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US inflation: of known and unknown unknowns (the ghost of Donald Rumsfeld) 

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The financial commentariat seem unsure on US inflation. I think that is understandable. For months now markets have braced for an acceleration of inflation as a consequence of President Trump’s

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RBA: leaning to a July cut but that productivity “wart”?

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The March quarter gross domestic product (GDP) release certainly confirmed that the Australian economy remains mired in the doldrums. GDP growth remains tepid, at best, at just 0.2 per cent

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RBA can act “decisively” to mitigate a deteriorating international environment and beware the bond vigilantes!

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As was largely anticipated, at the conclusion of this week’s Board meeting, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) announced a cut in the policy rate by 25 basis points (bps),

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