Insights

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Why has gold fallen amid heightened geopolitical tensions?

10 April 2026

Why has gold declined despite escalating conflict in Iran? Gold’s sharp pullback in recent months has confounded many investors. Traditionally viewed as a safe-haven asset, gold would normally be expected…

How has the bond market reacted to the conflict in Iran?

8 April 2026

The escalation of the conflict in Iran has sent a clear and forceful signal through global bond markets. Far from acting as a traditional “flight to safety,” government bonds have…

How could looser bank capital rules impact the US economy?

23 March 2026

What exactly has changed in bank capital regulation, and why now? US regulators have announced a significant recalibration of bank capital rules, marking one of the most consequential shifts in…

How could RBA rate hikes impact Australian financial markets?

20 March 2026

Why did the RBA raise rates again, and what is driving the inflation resurgence? The Reserve Bank of Australia’s decision to raise the cash rate by 25 basis points to…

What do higher oil prices mean for the global economy?

16 March 2026

Why is the Strait of Hormuz so critical to global energy supply? The sharp rise in oil prices since the outbreak of conflict between the US, Israel and Iran reflects…

What does the private credit sell‑off reveal about market risks?

6 March 2026

The latest turbulence across private credit markets has raised concerns among investors who have grown accustomed to years of rapid inflows, steady returns and the promise of insulation from public‑market…

Why are equity indexes flat despite rising volatility beneath the surface?

26 February 2026

The opening months of 2026 have been marked by a clear divergence in market behaviour: major equity indexes have held relatively steady, even as many individual stocks have undergone pronounced…

What do compressed credit spreads mean for bond markets?

20 February 2026

A surge in the corporate bond rally has driven spreads to their tightest levels in decades, sparking concerns that investors may be underestimating risk. With yields compressed and demand for…

Why have software stocks fallen in recent weeks?

13 February 2026

Software stocks across global markets have suffered a sharp sell‑off in recent weeks, prompting investors to question whether a sector long regarded as one of the most resilient pillars of…

What does Kevin Warsh’s appointment as Federal Reserve Chair mean for US monetary policy?

9 February 2026

Kevin Warsh has been nominated by US President Donald Trump to serve as the next Chair of the Federal Reserve, with his term scheduled to begin when current Chair Jerome…

What could rising Japanese bond yields and yen intervention mean for markets?

30 January 2026

What is happening in Japanese bond markets? Long‑term Japanese government bond (JGB) yields have surged to levels unseen in decades. Japan’s 40‑year yield recently crossed 4% for the first time…

How will Germany’s fiscal shift impact Europe’s economic outlook?

23 January 2026

Germany’s decision to loosen its constitutional borrowing limits marks one of the most significant fiscal shifts in Europe in recent years. Under the original debt brake, the federal government was…

How is China navigating tariffs and the global AI race?

21 January 2026

How has China’s economy been performing? China closed 2025 with a record trade surplus of $US1.19 trillion, defying expectations that US tariffs would cripple its export machine1. Exports grew despite…

How did financial markets perform in 2025?

18 December 2025

Why did global equities rally despite tariffs and inflation? The S&P 500 surged more than 15% in 2025, marking its third consecutive year of double-digit gains. The rally was powered…

What has been the economic impact of Trump’s tariffs in 2025?

5 December 2025

What are the current US tariff rates? Following US President Donald Trump’s tariff announcements throughout 2025, the effective US tariff rate has risen from roughly 2.5% at the start of…

What’s driving cracks in the $US3 trillion private credit market?

24 November 2025

What has sparked the latest concerns about private credit? Private credit has rapidly evolved into one of the fastest-growing segments of global finance, expanding from roughly $US2 trillion in 2020…

ASIC warns of hidden risks in Australia’s $200B private credit market

19 November 2025

Private credit has rapidly grown in popularity in Australian investment portfolios, offering attractive yields and diversification for investors willing to look beyond traditional bank lending. In our previous article, we…

Why has the IMF revised its global growth forecasts?

17 October 2025

What’s driving the IMF’s more optimistic tone? The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revised its global GDP growth forecasts in its latest World Economic Outlook, lifting its 2025 projection to…

What are ASIC’s concerns with La Trobe Financial and private credit?

15 October 2025

What is private credit? Private credit refers to lending by non-bank institutions, such as asset managers, to borrowers who may not qualify for traditional bank loans. These loans are typically…

How is AI affecting graduate employment?

14 October 2025

Are graduates struggling to find jobs? Across advanced economies, recent graduates are facing one of the toughest job markets in decades. Despite holding degrees in fields ranging from finance to…

How are higher bond yields impacting Japanese financial markets?

10 October 2025

Why are Japanese bond yields rising? After nearly a decade of ultra-loose monetary policy and near-zero interest rates, Japanese government bond (JGB) yields have risen to their highest levels in…

How is the Federal Reserve balancing its dual mandate?

24 September 2025

What was the Federal Reserve’s latest interest rate decision? The Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate by 0.25% in September 2025, reducing it to a target range of 4-4.25%,…

What has driven China’s ongoing deflation?

19 September 2025

China’s headline consumer price index (CPI) fell 0.4% year-on-year in August, slipping back into deflationary territory after a flat reading in July. Producer prices also dropped 2.9%, marking the 35th…

What does the Google antitrust ruling mean for competition in the tech sector?

12 September 2025

Why did the court stop short of breaking up Google? In a landmark decision in the US antitrust case against Google, US District Judge Amit Mehta ruled that the company…

What did we learn from ASX reporting season?

5 September 2025

The ASX 200 rose 3% over the August 2025 reporting season, reaching record highs despite another year of declining corporate profits. This was driven by slightly better-than-expected earnings across much…

Will Trump undermine the Federal Reserve’s independence?

18 July 2025

Why does Trump want to replace Powell? US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has kept interest rates on hold at 4.25-4.5% at every meeting this year, stating at the European…

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