Macro View | James Foster

Despite the headwinds from the Middle East conflict and rising inflation, Australia's fiscal outlook has improved somewhat. Surging ener...

Market sentiment supported risk assets this week, with optimism towards a de-escalation in the Middle East remaining the central expectation...

Australia posted its first monthly trade deficit since 2017 in March (-$1.8bn), with imports surging due to the tech-related capex boom and ...

The RBA delivered its third consecutive rate hike today, lifting the cash rate by 25bps to 4.35%. An 8-1 (hike-hold) vote from the Monetary ...

Surging fuel prices drove Australian household spending to its fastest rise in over two years, increasing by 1.6% in March.  Spending in the...

The RBA is widely expected to lift the cash rate to 4.35% with another 25bps hike today. The key rate has already risen by 50bps this year. ...

Australian dwelling approvals fell by more than 10% in March, broadly in line with consensus - though house approvals climbed to their highe...

Several major central banks that met this week indicated an increased willingness to consider hiking rates as the conflict continues to thre...

A 33% surge in fuel prices following the Middle East conflict sent headline inflation in Australia to its highest since 2023 in March. Altho...

Australia's latest inflation report for March is due from the ABS this morning (1130 AEST). The report is expected to show headline infl...

The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz referenced last week proved to be very short lived, with both the US and Iran reinstating blockades an...

Market optimism on a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz has (temporarily at least) been validated, with Iran agreeing to allow the passage of...

Australia's unemployment rate remained at 4.3% in March, matching market expectations. Employment increased sufficiently (17.9k) to abso...