The focus this week in Australia is the RBA’s policy meeting today and tomorrow. The cash rate is expected to remain unchanged at 4.35% and the main point of interest is whether the RBA is still relatively hawkish hinting that further rate hikes cannot be ruled out,...
Australian economic growth and inflation have been moderating since early-to-mid 2023 and the call is growing louder (unwarranted in our view) for the Government and the RBA to take policy action to stem and reverse the tide. According to the latest quarterly (Q4...
The rally in risk assets continued strongly in February with almost all major share and credit markets making gains. The further rally was helped by more signs of soft economic landing for the US as well as hope of government initiatives to prime growth in China....
Economic data released in February showed most major economies showing slow growth bordering recession. A notable exception is the United States where most economic readings point to improving growth and off a firm base in the second half of 2023. The slow growth...
Australia’s labour market strength is starting to fade. A weaker labour market will help to cap wage growth and should over time help to bring inflation back inside the RBA’s 2-3% target. A weaker labour market will pave the way for the RBA to start cutting the cash...
The RBA has made it plain at the first board meeting of 2024 that while the cash rate will be cut at some point, the first move is not imminent. According to the forecasts in the February Statement of Monetary Policy released at the same time as the RBA decision, the...
