Which key events have been driving markets? Watch this video of MLC’s Senior Economist Bob Cunneen in discussion with Head of Investment Communications Jason Hazell.

Highlights: Perhaps paradoxically, February’s market turmoil was a response to signs that the global economy is reducing slack. US employment and wage indicators led investors to take a more “inflationist” view, with a rise in yields pre-empting future Fed tightening. Price pressures in Europe also appear to be picking up, with PMIs pointing to stronger…

At its meeting today, the Board decided to leave the cash rate unchanged at 1.50 per cent. The global economy has strengthened over the past year. A number of advanced economies are growing at an above-trend rate and unemployment rates are low. Growth picked up in the Asian economies in 2017, partly supported by increased international trade….

26 February 2018 Bob Cunneen, Senior Economist and Portfolio Specialist Australian manufacturing vs global surveys View larger imageSources: Australian Industry Group (AIG) Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI) Markit Economics for Purchasing Managers Index Australia’s manufacturing sector has struggled over recent years with intense global competition. Factory closures and large job losses were all too common…

February 2018 Take a visual tour of markets during January. There were strong gains in global shares, China’s share market rocketed up, and government bond yields rose sharply in Europe and the US. View full infographic for January markets >>

Highlights: The global economy is benefiting from a broad-based, cyclical recovery, supported by higher levels of investment and accommodative monetary policy. The US economy ended 2017 on a slightly shaky footing, although the overall employment situation continues to improve and the bond market is anticipating further rate hikes. Growth in Europe continues to surprise on…

  VIX Volatility Index Source: US Federal Reserve, St Louis  View larger chart US shares have been in turmoil since February 2nd. The announcement that US wages growth had accelerated to its fastest pace since 2009 was the catalyst for this sharp share selloff. However this US inflation surprise was actually magnified into a shock…

At its meeting today, the Board decided to leave the cash rate unchanged at 1.50 per cent. There was a broad-based pick-up in the global economy in 2017. A number of advanced economies are growing at an above-trend rate and unemployment rates are low. Growth has also picked up in the Asian economies, partly supported by increased…

Highlights: As was strongly anticipated by the market, the US Fed lifted the funds rate to 1.5% in mid-December. The US economy appears to be operating near capacity, with an unemployment rate of just 4.1% and an underemployment rate of 8% – the lowest since 2006. The recovery in Europe continues to defy expectations, with…

Highlights: The global economy continues to generate synchronised growth and markets are expecting these conditions to continue into 2018. In the US, both houses of Congress have approved bills to reform and lower corporate and personal taxes paving the way for new tax laws in coming months. In Europe, business conditions are at 16-year highs…