The latest Statement of Monetary Policy from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) forecast that the official unemployment rate would remain around its current level until the end of 2027: With “full employment” being one of the RBA’s mandates (the other being “price stability”), an increase in unemployment significantly above the forecast implies an increased
When China first began its meteoric rise to unparalleled industrial superpower, there were nations around the world who saw the Middle Kingdom’s rise as an opportunity, a new market in which to sell their goods. And for a while, the relationship between China and, in particular, Europe was heavily defined by the rise of the
Before Tuesday’s interest rate decision, financial markets anticipated that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) would deliver one more 25-bp rate hike in 2026 amid rising inflation concerns. Tuesday’s NAB Business Survey for November suggested that Australia’s inflation is not as broad-based as thought and also pointed to a further softening of the labour market—both
The Pacific Peso is on fire even before the RBA’s “hawkish hold” at yesterday’s meeting, keeping in on its short term trend that has seen it breach and hold the 66 cent level against USD. However its performing much better against the Asian countries, making a new yearly high against Yen: In fact it maybe
Wall Street remained in a hold pattern overnight as everyone awaits the FOMC meeting with a selloff in Treasuries keeping USD somewhat supported, particularly against Yen while European shares also went nowhere. Yesterday’s RBA meeting where a hold was handed down amid hawkish commentary saw a selloff in local stocks and bonds as well with
I reported on Tuesday on how the Albanese government will end its energy bill subsidies at the end of the year. The bill subsidies have cost taxpayers almost $7 billion since their introduction following the start of the war in Ukraine. With the energy bill subsidies removed, Australian voters will bear the true cost of
Research by Super Consumers Australia has found that the typical single retiree paying rent needs $659,000 in superannuation to enjoy a financially secure future, more than twice the $322,000 required by a homeowner. Couples face a similar gap: $786,000 for renters versus $432,000 for homeowners. Renters are three times more likely to struggle financially in
All eyes on the RBA in its last meeting of the year today with a hawkish hold the expected outcome which gave the Aussie dollar a small boost but stocks didn’t like the result. Other Asian share markets are on the back foot due to a listless Wall Street as we head into the final
As expected, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has unanimously chosen to keep the official cash rate on hold at 3.60%. In its media release accompanying the decision, the RBA suggested that “temporary factors” are behind much of the recent rise in inflation, but also admitted that it is unsure of the extent: While inflation
From the Market Ear Two weeks of “agony” Two weeks ago, positioning was falling, HFs were net sellers, hedging was picking up, CTAs were cutting exposure, and Retail flow was fading. Shorts were working, and HF alpha held up. Now everything has flipped, buying has surged across cohorts, the 1-week change in JPM’s US Tactical