Market insights

Risk assets weakened in August as evidence of firmer US economic activity; Europe possibly avoiding recession; and slower progress containing inflation rekindled concern that central banks have not finished hiking interest rates. China and Australia went against the...

In August, progress towards lower inflation was patchier in most major economies other than in China and Australia. In China, the faltering economic recovery and excess capacity are promoting deflation. In Australia, annual inflation, although still high, fell sharply...

Two key data points released last week say that Australia’s labour market may have reached a tipping point. The labour market may be taking a softer turn and that could remove pressure on the RBA to hike rates any further in this cycle. At the very least, if there are...

Financial markets are starting to look towards the end of central bank rate hikes as well as towards “soft” economic landings for the world’s major economies. Soft landing prospects have been boosted by mostly decelerating annual inflation so far in 2023 improving the...

Risk assets had another strong month in July assisted by signs of moderating inflation and signs that the US economy may achieve a soft landing. While most central banks, including the US Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank and the Bank of England, hiked rates...