June 2024
Why Biden, Trump will skirt this pressing issue in the debate
With polls suggesting the US presidential race will be very close, both candidates will try to steer clear of discussing ways to rein in the massive US budget deficit.
French far-right Rassemblement National tries to soothe nervous markets
The French far-right party Rassemblement National is borrowing heavily from Macron’s economic policy in a bid to reassure nervous investors, while using immigration and security as points of differentiation.
China’s banks feel the sting as problem loans mount
China’s deepening housing market crisis is eroding the balance sheets of the country’s largest state banks.
Central bankers doing their best to silence rate cut hopes
Investors are responding to high rates with a novel investment strategy – keeping the bulk of their money in cash and using the rest to punt on AI stocks.
Bullock tiptoes through a political minefield
The Reserve Bank governor has been trying to avoid blaming Canberra and state government budgetary blowouts for fuelling inflation.
What directors should learn from Musk’s massive payout
Tesla’s shareholders still believe in the magic of their chief executive, but critics say the bumper payday has warped some of the company’s decisions.
The Fed treats itself to the luxury of time when it comes to rates
The decision to sit pat highlights the very different approaches central bankers are taking as they try to rein in inflation while maintaining economic growth.
Investors give a belated cheer to Apple’s AI foray
The tech giant’s strategy unveil has pushed its share price to records this week. But, in the background, safety and privacy concerns are also rising.
Jobs report kills hope on the Fed to cut rates
Investors fear the ruddy health of the US economy could persuade officials on Thursday to hold off on cutting rates until after the November presidential election.
Why cryptocurrencies are surging again
Crypto enthusiasts believe bitcoin could soon eclipse its previous record high of close to $US74,000 amid growing cheer about interest rate cuts and hopes of looser regulations.
Investors cheer as interest rate pain finally appears to be easing
Investors now expect the Federal Reserve will cut rates in September, amid growing signs economic activity is faltering. And that’s pushing markets higher.
Don’t bet on this meme stock trading frenzy being like the last
It is a very different market to the early days of 2021, as traders hoping for a quick profit from GameStop have found. And analysts say it is increasingly fragile.
The GameStop flurry masks the market’s underlying angst
Investors are worried that the Federal Reserve is now overly preoccupied with reducing inflation, and could be missing signs that the US economy is weakening.
May 2024
Trump’s conviction compounds investor uncertainty
It remains to be seen whether the market’s bullishness can continue now that Donald Trump’s conviction looks set to usher in a period of divisiveness in US politics.
Investors find little to celebrate as focus shifts to US election
Investors are becoming increasingly anxious that massive US government deficits and increasing tariffs represent a dangerous inflationary cocktail.
The grim news from soaring gold and oil prices
The gold price is up more than 20 per cent in the past 12 months, while oil is up 15 per cent. One analyst warns this is a sign of looming inflation.
Rising bond yields have investors on edge
Rising bond yields are casting a cloud over the US equity market, as investors focus on the budgetary implications of the November presidential election.
Banks gear up to take back mortgage market from brokers
The country’s largest lenders are preparing to claim back territory lost to the mortgage broking industry.
Inside the unstoppable rise of Australia’s mortgage brokers
They’re wealthy, brash and eating the banks’ lunch. Meet the millionaire mortgage brokers taking on the major lenders and – for now – winning.
Two massive things happened while we were watching the budget
Two big overseas developments will be much more crucial in determining our economic prosperity than last week’s budget. The first is Beijing finally taking steps to address the bursting of the country’s property bubble.