October 2024
- Opinion
- World markets
China’s stock rally for the ages shows power of crowds
It could take months until we know the real economic impact of Beijing’s latest stimulus round. But markets are not hanging around to find out.
December 2023
- Opinion
- Bonds
Investor love affair with US bonds restarts after rocky times
The market consensus has flipped once again, now to a widespread expectation that rates are easing.
November 2023
- Opinion
- Sharemarket
Investors predict soft landing US recession in 2024
The consensus forecast for next year is a mild US recession, with bonds becoming more attractive.
July 2023
Bond fund giant prepares for global economy’s ‘harder landing’
Pimco chief investment officer Daniel Ivascyn says the market is “too confident in the quality of central bank decisions”.
June 2023
- Opinion
- Inflation
‘Next waves coming’: Inflation tops fear list again for investors
Washington’s deal on borrowing is a rare jolt of good news in a difficult year. But evidence that the dreaded i-word is simply not backing down is everywhere.
April 2023
Giant wealth fund draws up AI rules for listed firms
CEO Nicolai Tangen said the $2.1 trillion Norwegian fund will set guidelines for how the 9000 companies it invests in should use artificial intelligence ethically.
March 2023
- Opinion
- Private equity
Bank wobbles mean a fretful time for investors
The wise would do well to ignore online warriors trying to stir up a global banking crisis – but this seems a good time for ‘market stress protocols’ and tin hats.
January 2023
- Opinion
- Sharemarket
Smart money is still wary of the equity rally
While markets have made a strong recovery, the prospect of more rate rises looms.
IMF signals upgrade to forecasts as optimism spreads at Davos
The mood has turned upbeat at the World Economic Forum as China reopens and data suggest that Europe will avoid deep recession.
- Analysis
- Monetary policy
What if 2023 is not the reset investors are pining for?
Party-poopers point to the risk of a Fed pivot turning out to be more of a plateau before more rate increases.
December 2022
- Opinion
- World markets
Wall Street’s Christmas relief rally faces big tests
Jay Powell’s comments lifted investor sentiment but the impact of a long-anticipated US economic downturn looms.
November 2022
- Opinion
- Cryptocurrencies
A bit more fear and doubt about crypto is healthy
The demise of FTX has delivered a few tough lessons in two of the guiding principles of money management – do your homework, and keep it simple.
- Opinion
- World markets
The illusory appeal of bear market rallies
Central banks continue to dash the hopes of more optimistic equity investors.
October 2022
- Opinion
- Bonds
Investors should brace: More shocks are on the way
With rates rising fast in response to sky-high inflation, new market landmines are at risk of going off.
- Opinion
- Bonds
Kwarteng crashes the bond market love-in
The UK chancellor last week showed how the path towards higher interest rates around the world will be fraught with danger.
August 2022
- Opinion
- Bonds
Debt defaults start to loom more over markets
If you think the Fed will take its foot off the gas with headline inflation running at 8.5 per cent, against a target of 2 per cent, I have a bridge to sell you.
July 2022
- Opinion
- Monetary policy
A soft landing is becoming a distant dream
Aeroplane metaphors do little to disguise the fact that central bankers are struggling with the inflationary overshoot.
May 2022
- Opinion
- Cryptocurrencies
The crypto shake-out shows boring is back
True believers say crypto is a new global currency. Give it time, they say. Well, it has had time now, more than a decade in fact, and I still can’t use it to buy a coffee or any other daily items for that matter.
- Updated
- Opinion
- Cryptocurrencies
What happens in crypto may not stay in crypto this time around
Even some who have sipped the Kool-Aid accept the latest crypto cracks may be different.
January 2022
- Opinion
- World markets
Bund blip shows just how fast the market mood is changing
This year opened with growing certainty that the Fed would raise rates three times this year. Now, markets are tilting heavily towards the view that it could be four.