Economics

As we farewell the shores of 2025 and sail into 2026, equity investors seem to be shrugging off fears of an artificial intelligence (AI) bubble and are instead betting on a growing U.S. economy, rate cuts, and a broadening of bullish sentiment beyond the AI leaders.

The consensus view is the U.S. economy is settling into a rate of growth that is more modest than last year’s, avoids a recession and could surprise to the upside. Meanwhile, U.S. inflation and employment data are generally seen as supportive of a Federal Reserve rate cut, even though, according to some economists such as Torsten Slock, two-thirds of inflation seems to be demand-driven. continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Economics, Global markets.

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I joined Jess Maguire on ABC Statewide Drive to discuss how Black Friday has evolved from a U.S. curiosity into Australia’s biggest retail event, now eclipsing even Boxing Day. I explained how the surge in discounting can pull Christmas spending forward and boost sales – but how it can also put pressure on retailer margins. I explored how this day can provide useful clues about consumer sentiment, inflation and overall economic activity. We also touched on the risks of shoppers leaning too heavily on credit, the seasonal jobs created by these major sales events, and why the growing list of endless promotions has effectively turned the year into one long discount cycle.

Tune into the episode from 1:42:25 here: ABC Statewide Drive continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Economics, Radio.

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The U.S. Federal Reserve (The Fed) has two main mandates: supporting employment and controlling inflation. Until Friday, it looked as if the two were almost perfectly balanced against each other, suggesting that the Fed would keep rates on hold in December.

Last week, Wall Street decided that a December cut was off the table. On Wednesday, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) Fedwatch futures index placed the probability of a cut at just 30 per cent.

Meanwhile, JPMorgan published a note predicting a January cut. Markets sold off dramatically, with the Nasdaq 2.74 per cent lower, and the S&P 500 losing 1.95 per cent last week. And there were of course, fears of a bubble in the artificial intelligence (AI) theme, which we have written about here copiously. continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Economics, Global markets, Market commentary.

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The father of a field of mathematics known as fractal geometry, Benoit Mandelbrot, in his fantastic book, The (Mis)behaviour of Markets, observed that market price movements, unlike the smooth curves assumed in traditional financial models, are jagged and irregular, meaning that large price swings are more frequent than expected, and periods of high volatility can be followed by more high volatility. His work provides a more realistic framework for understanding and modeling risk, noting also that volatility in markets tends to cluster.

In my experience, I’ve observed those volatility clusters often mark turning points in markets. To be clear, not all periods of heightened volatility are turning points, but almost all turning points are accompanied by greater volatility. continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Economics, Market commentary, Market Valuation.

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On Monday the S&P/ASX 200 tumbled two per cent, led by a sell-off in tech stocks. It’s now down about seven per cent over the past month. Concerns about the end of the interest rate cycle in Australia, a lack of information on Wall Street and the forever present geopolitical fears seem to be weighing on investors.

On Fear & Greed, with Sean Aylmer, I explained that stretched valuations and a cooling of artificial intelligence (AI) optimism are prompting a shift in sentiment – but this isn’t a time to panic. It’s a reminder to rebalance, trim what’s run hard, and look to genuinely diversified, uncorrelated opportunities.

Tune in to the episode here: Q+A: What’s next after yesterday’s market tumble? continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Economics, Market commentary, Podcast Channel.

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For every equity that trades, there is a buyer and seller. Often there are functional reasons for selling, such as paying down a loan, paying tax, distributing an inheritance, or meeting retirement spending needs. Putting those aside, another reason for selling is the harbouring of a negative outlook on the share market in general or the sector or individual stock. But there is also a buyer on the side, who may hold the polar opposite view and outlook.

And if we assume both investors have access to the same information, the difference in outlook can only be attributed to a difference in perception.

Take for example the spending by artificial intelligence (AI) hyperscalers on their infrastructure buildout, estimated to be US$3 trillion by 2029. continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Economics, Insightful Insights, Investing Education, Market commentary.

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I joined Niav Owens on ABC Newcastle Mornings yesterday to discuss why cash is making a comeback – despite the rise of digital payments – and why it still plays an important role in budgeting, privacy, and accessibility. We also touched on the trillions being poured into artificial intelligence and whether those investments can truly deliver the returns investors expect.

You can listen to the full episode from 14:13 here: ABC Newcastle Mornings.  continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Economics, Global markets, Radio.

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continue…

by David Buckland Posted in Economics, Global markets, Video Insights.

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Central banks across the Western world have been busy recalibrating policy settings, with interest rate cuts a common theme over the past 12-15 months. But the reasons for these moves, and the consequences, vary widely between economies. In the following analysis, I examine the recent cash rate changes across Australia, the U.S., the UK, Europe, Canada, and New Zealand, and place them in the context of each nation’s inflation and unemployment trends. Together, these snapshots highlight the mixed progress in taming inflation, the trade-offs being made, and the signals for both savers and borrowers in the year ahead.

I have tabled the cash rate movements from the Central Banks of these six Western World economies, accompanied by some brief economic observations. continue…

by David Buckland Posted in Economics, Global markets.

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If you’re tracking equities, it’s vital to keep an eye on the bond markets, as they’re signalling genuine unease. That nervousness is now rippling through global economies. continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Economics, Global markets, Market commentary.

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