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Cecile Lefort

Today

Phil Ryan, Dairy Farmer in Bega.

Inside the great decline of Australia’s dairy industry

Local dairy farmers are facing another season of low milk prices, leaving many farms unprofitable as they also grapple with extreme weather and surging costs.

This Month

The Aussie has strengthened amid Donald Trump’s trade war.

US dollar slide threatens super fund returns

The rising Aussie against the greenback is forcing Australia’s biggest investors to increase protection of overseas assets.

May

$A emerges as unlikely Trump turmoil safe haven

It isn’t just sentiment, with the Australian dollar’s share of global central bank currency reserves more than doubling, mostly over recent months.

Shoppers at a supermarket.

Inflation data no barrier to another RBA rate cut

Headline inflation remained within the central bank’s target band in April, bolstering market confidence for further easing

Neale Bennett and other almond farmers have been making the most of the spike in Californian prices by charging a hefty premium of their own.

Australian farmers go nuts as almond prices hit 10-year high

Local growers are making the most of Donald Trump’s trade war by charging China huge premiums for the tree nut. A weak Australian dollar is also helping.

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Tim Toohey was chief economist at Goldman Sachs Australia for more than a decade.

Former Goldman economist splits from market, predicts big rate cuts

Now at Yarra Capital, Tim Toohey says the RBA will slash interest rates more aggressively than expected. Other economists say there’s little chance of that.

The VW production line in Dresden, Germany. Donald Trump is flagging bigger tariffs on European imports, sending markets diving.

ASX to open lower, $A surges on Trump trade threat

Futures point to a 0.4 per cent fall when the S&P/ASX 200 opens on Monday, but a big sell-off in the greenback is helping boost the local currency.

Bond markets are pricing in rapid rate cuts from the RBA

Traders bet on July rate cut and more to follow

Bond traders are pricing in a good chance the RBA will deliver more rate relief at its next policy meeting in July followed by two more by year-end. Not everyone agrees.

Reserve Bank Governor Michele Bullock said so far, so good after cutting the cash rate on Tuesday.

RBA’s Bullock shocks market with ‘jumbo’ rate talk

Bond yields and the Australian dollar dropped as traders ramped up rate cut bets after Michele Bullock surprised with a more dovish tone on interest rates.

RBA could throw a curveball. Here are its 3 options

Markets and economists are expecting a second rate cut from the Reserve Bank this year, but there is always the chance of a surprise.

Retail stocks rise when interest rates fall, say fund managers.

How fundies are trading the RBA’s looming rate cut

Fund managers are positioning for a more aggressive easing cycle in Australia compared to the US by piling into these ASX small-caps.

RBA governor Michele Bullock is widely expected to lower the cash rate next week.

Market sticks with rate cut next week despite job surge

Investors temper their RBA bets after employment data smashes expectations, but they still see a strong chance of a move lower on May 20

Donald Trump’s back and forth on tariffs has kept the market on its toes.

Rate cuts still on the way after US-China tariff pause

Traders now expect ‘just’ three rate cuts in Australia after the US-China trade deal, but investors are still worried about the health of the global economy.

The United States wants to reduce its large trade deficit with China.

Risk assets rally as US-China trade deal exceeds fundies’ expectations

Investors and markets have cheered the major progress in a trade deal that will have Beijing and Washington temporarily easing tariff levels for at least 90 days.

RBA Michele Bullock will cut rates because Australia is a small economy exposed to global developments, say economists.

Why the RBA is set to break away from the Fed and cut rates

Australia can act more swiftly than the US, which typically sets the tone for global monetary policy.

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Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell wants to see more data before deciding on cutting interest rates.

Three rate cuts coming but investor fear Fed’s next move

The Fed kept rates at 4.3 per cent; traders are still betting on a July rate cut, but pundits warn inflation and slowing growth could stop it from doing anything.

A surge in Asian currencies including the Taiwanese dollar has lifted the Australian dollar.

Hopes of Asian trade deal send $A to five-month high

A surge in currencies across Asia has pushed the currency above US65¢ amid hopes the White House is on the brink of announcing a deal in the region.

Robert Mackenzie, right, of Macka’s Pastoral is shipping his first beef container to China since 2019.

Why cattle prices just hit a two-year high

This week a cattle price benchmark climbed to the highest level since March 2023 partly thanks to Chinese buyers looking elsewhere for beef.

China needs its export strategy to succeed if it is to sustain even a moderate level of economic growth.

Expecting cheap Chinese goods to flood Australia? You may be shocked

Barrenjoey’s Andrew Lilley says rerouted goods from Donald Trump’s trade war will lift prices and force the Reserve Bank to be wary about rapid rate cuts.

April

Michelle Bullock, governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, is widely expected to lower the cash rate next month.

Bond market too optimistic about rapid rate cuts, investors warn

Benign inflation data has boosted bets of a rate cut next month, but fund managers caution against the aggressive easing path implied by markets.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/by/cecile-lefort-p4ywcg