Which key events have been driving markets? Watch this video of Senior Economist Bob Cunneen in discussion with Portfolio Specialist, Sinead Rafferty.

Highlights: The US-China trade dispute has raised fears of a prolonged game of one-upmanship that could result in long-term damage to the global economy. US Fed officials believe some of the recent weakness in inflation data may be temporary, but some have expressed concern about a cycle of low inflation expectations. Sentiment in Europe remains…

At its meeting today, the Board decided to lower the cash rate by 25 basis points to 1.25 per cent. The Board took this decision to support employment growth and provide greater confidence that inflation will be consistent with the medium-term target. The outlook for the global economy remains reasonable, although the downside risks stemming from the trade…

17 May 2019 Bob Cunneen, Senior Economist and Portfolio Specialist Sources: Reserve Bank of Australia and Datastream. A key strength of the Australian economy has been the labour market. In the past year to April 2019, there has been robust jobs growth exceeding three hundred thousand. Australia’s unemployment rate has edged down from 5.5% in…

Highlights: The US labour market continues to tighten but the Fed is concerned that a cycle of perpetually low inflation expectations could reduce monetary policy flexibility. Sentiment in Europe continues to deteriorate, with inflation softening in April and the manufacturing sector in contraction. Despite zero growth in the CPI for the March quarter, the RBA…

Which key events have been driving markets? Watch this video of Senior Economist Bob Cunneen in discussion with Portfolio Specialist, Sinead Rafferty.

8 May 2019 Bob Cunneen, Senior Economist and Portfolio Specialist RBA cash interest rate vs leading indicators Source: Reserve Bank of Australia and Datastream. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is under considerable pressure to cut interest rates. This seems extraordinary given that Australia’s cash interest rate stands at a low 1.5% (blue line). However…

At its meeting today, the Board decided to leave the cash rate unchanged at 1.50 per cent. The outlook for the global economy remains reasonable, although the risks are tilted to the downside. Growth in international trade has declined and investment intentions have softened in a number of countries. In China, the authorities have taken steps to…

18 April 2019 Bob Cunneen, Senior Economist and Portfolio Specialist Global Shares Forward Price-to-Earnings Ratio                                                Source: IBES and Datastream. Global share prices have surged back in 2019. The painful final months of…

Highlights: Data from the US has confirmed that the slowdown in growth has continued through early 2019, although March employment and PMI figures have shown some positive signs. The Brexit issue is still creating uncertainty for markets. Prime Minister May will now seek a bipartisan deal to present to the British parliament and EU negotiators….