Quarterly Market Wrap Q1 2025

The Trump administration’s imposition of tariffs on major trading partners and fears of their impact on growth and inflation unsettled markets in the March quarter. Geopolitical anxieties also mounted as the US attempted to cut a peace deal with Russia, over the heads of Ukraine and European allies. In Australia, the RBA belatedly joined other central banks in cutting official interest rates, while the federal government announced tax cuts ahead of an election in May.
Quarterly Market Wrap Q4 2024

Global share markets hit record highs in 2024, despite geopolitical tensions, electoral upheaval and economic challenges. The US market, led by tech names, was the standout.
Quarterly Market Wrap Q3 2024

The US and Australian equity markets hit record highs at the end of the September quarter as news of moderating inflation and a global move to lower interest rates overshadowed geopolitical uncertainty and a brief breakout in volatility in August.
The Return of Volatility

This week has seen the resurgence of volatility, with some big swings in markets. Media headlines have been filled with shock and awe. It is natural for this commentary to feed into our emotions, and often this triggers a negative feedback loop that fuels further market volatility.
Quarterly Market Wrap Q2 2024

A bumper financial year, in which developed market shares posted a gain of 20% and Australian shares surged 12%, ended in a more subdued fashion in the June quarter. Big picture, markets seemed to be in a holding pattern, waiting for economic skies to clear.
Quarterly Market Wrap Q1 2024

After the exuberance of the “pivot party” in the last eight weeks of 2023, many thought that there could be a retraction in early 2024. But markets have shaken off expectations that interest rate cuts are not coming as quickly as they had priced in at the end of last year.