Even when central bankers are surprised, they do so conservatively. Jerome Powell cut rates 50 bps but then did his best to allay any concerns that the US economy is secretly worse than it seems. Meanwhile, in Oz, the RBA remains alert but not alar...
Learn moreThe RBA left rate on hold again at 4.35%. Michele Bullock, Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), is feeling the pressure. Rates are falling elsewhere, even across the ditch in New Zealand. Comments from the Treasurer and a former Labor tr...
Learn moreThe RBA left rates on hold at 4.25%. The RBA does not want to have to raise rate but it is deeply concerned about the forecasted path of inflation. Inflation is now expected to take even longer to fall within the target band! For the mome...
Learn moreContinuing good inflation data in the US has sent markets into the “great rotation”. However, the Federal Reserve still needs a little more good news before it decides to cut. In Australia, the all-important June quarter CPI print was a mixe...
Learn moreNo, r-star doesn’t stand for “rock star”! Rather, it is the official cash rate that has a neutral impact on an economy: neither contractionary nor expansionary. It is critical for both central bankers and investors. R-star is the i...
Learn moreTourist and alternative lifestyle mecca Byron Bay may be getting stripped of its nudist beach but it is the RBA that is getting embarrassed by larger than expected figures! Meanwhile, the EU has started cutting, the US remains on course for cuts, Japan ...
Learn moreLike a heroine in a horror movie that suddenly feels that something is not quite right, the RBA Board is starting to feel a little uneasy. Sure inflation is still sticky, the labour market tight, and the economy slowing but the consumer is reducing thei...
Learn moreThe cash rate was left unchanged on Tuesday. It’s been a bumpy ride over the last 6 months in terms of economic data according to RBA Governor Michele Bullock. The weight of data in the last half of 2023 and early 2024 suggested that the next ...
Learn moreIt’s not looking good for the Australian dollar. The AUD has been trending down against the greenback since 2021 (AUD/USD)(see chart below). Now, several factors have come together to add a few more anchors to the AUD; it’s down around 6% si...
Learn moreGovernor Michele Bullock left the cash rate unchanged on Tuesday. In December, the RBA had been reluctant to act without more information. By the meeting in February, they had received more information and there were no major surprises. Goods in...
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