Central bank policies driving share market performance Despite economic stresses, major share markets continued to rise in July as investors remain buoyed by supportive central bank policies.. Bob Cunneen, Senior Economist at MLC Asset Management, discusses these points in the August Economic Update.

Highlights: The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the global economy has been profound, especially in emerging, low-income economies with limited health care capacity. Trade tensions between the US and China added to market volatility, while the outcome of the November US presidential election remains uncertain. A port explosion in Beirut killed at least 135…

At its meeting today, the Board decided to maintain the current policy settings, including the targets for the cash rate and the yield on 3-year Australian Government bonds of 25 basis points. The global economy is experiencing a severe contraction as countries seek to contain the coronavirus. Even though the worst of this contraction has now…