This Month
Chook awards for 2024 and stock picks for 2025
James and Anthony bring 2024 home to roost with the Annual Chook Awards. Plus get some sharemarket tips from a fund manager with a nearly $8 billion portfolio.
- Opinion
- Global economy
Inflation risk crashes into political risk
Market tantrums and the fall in the Australian dollar in response to the US Fed show that next year is likely to be even more volatile.
- Jennifer Hewett
ASX dives 2pc; Shayne Elliott’s $3m bonus hit; JobKeeper ‘saved jobs’
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
The Fed just killed the Santa rally
Jerome Powell gave investors a rate cut. But what sent Wall Street plunging was his message for 2025.
- James Thomson
- Opinion
- Interest rates
The Fed and Trump’s intentions will converge sooner than later
Policymakers will have to make assumptions about what the Trump administration will do, though for now, they can focus on the economy’s persistent momentum.
- Bill Dudley
Pace of US rate cuts set to slow in 2025: Wall St economists
The probability of a rate cut this month has risen, though the outlook is less clear as inflation continues to hold above the Federal Reserve’s 2 per cent target.
- Timothy Moore
- Updated
- Monetary policy
US inflation ticks up but Fed ready for rate cut
Consumer prices rose 2.7 per cent in the year to November, up from 2.6 per cent in October, lifting the probability of another quarter point cut.
- Updated
- Matthew Cranston
Trump says he’s unlikely to fire Jerome Powell
In a TV interview, the president-elect also said he would pardon the January 6 Capitol rioters on day one, while vowing to lock up his political foes.
- Peter Baker
Fed on track to cut rates: Wall Street’s view of jobs data
November’s payrolls report keeps open the door for a quarter point rate cut this month, though next week’s CPI data still needs to be cleared.
- Timothy Moore
Victoria’s asset sale; MinRes’ gag request; Wesfarmers’ rates alert
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
Powell shrugs off Trump’s plan for a ‘shadow’ Fed chairman
The US central bank chief said his institution has “broad support” on Capitol Hill, and was confident of a solid relationship with the new Treasury secretary.
- Colby Smith
November
Why Trump’s trade war doesn’t faze this central bank chief
ECB president Christine Lagarde takes aim at claim that tariffs will “make America great again” – but calls for negotiation, not retaliation with the US.
- Roula Khalaf, Patrick Jenkins and Olaf Storbeck
- Analysis
- Trump's White House
Inside Musk’s first bitter fight with Trump
Scott Bessent prevailed as the top nominee for Treasury secretary after a fierce battle for influence inside the president-elect’s court.
- James Fontanella-Khan, Antoine Gara and Colby Smith
Powell says no need to rush rate cuts
Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell said the strong US economy has given central bankers room to lower interest rates at a careful pace.
- Chrisopher Rugaber
Fed still on track to cut rates in December: CPI view
The three-month annualised rate of consumer prices increased by almost 0.5 percentage point to 3.6pc in October. Economists say the pace won’t derail another rate cut.
- Timothy Moore
- Opinion
- Interest rates
Powell doesn’t fear Trump, and yet can’t contain him
If the president-elect’s policy initiatives prove modest, the Federal Reserve’s delay in responding won’t matter too much.
- Bill Dudley
- Opinion
- US Votes 2024
Markets celebrate a Trumpian revolution
While investors are rejoicing at the prospect of a business-friendly Trump administration, it will also amplify long-term inflation and asset pricing risks.
- Christopher Joye
ASX jumps; ANZ profits slip; Powell says Trump can’t fire him
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
- Analysis
- US Votes 2024
Powell signals power struggle with Trump on Fed independence
The Federal Reserve chairman says he will not stand down if asked to do so by Donald Trump, who had appointed him to the role during his first presidency.
- Updated
- Catarina Saraiva
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Trump who? Why the Fed cut rates, ignored politics and boosted bulls
The Federal Reserve has juiced a robust US economy and surging sharemarket with another reduction, despite the president-elect’s inflationary policy platform.
- James Thomson