Market commentary

The global economy faces a complex landscape as trade tensions between the United States and China persist, threatening economic stability. This week, Ric Deverell, the highly regarded Chief Economist at Macquarie, shared insights on the potential for a U.S. recession, the resilience of China’s economy, and the ripple effects on global markets, including Australia and Europe. Our interpretation of his comments follows, and where data is independently available, we have provided that data along with sources. continue…

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

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For years I have abided by the idea that gold is useless. As Charles Munger noted; if you buy an ounce of gold today, at the end of eternity, you will still own an ounce of gold. With no industrial use and producing no income, Munger’s partner, Warren Buffett, noted gold is only good for doing two things: ‘looking and fondling’. They are right in the sense that, without any ability to compound or any commercial value, buying gold is a bet that others will subsequently buy gold at a higher price. In that sense, buying gold is speculation rather than investing.

I remain convinced, buying gold is, and will always be, a bet on fear. continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Market commentary.

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Last night, I appeared on ABC News to discuss Westpac’s (ASX:WBC) half-year financial results, where CEO Anthony Miller reported disappointing numbers. A key concern was the bank’s net interest margins (gross profit margin made on their lending activities), which came in one basis point below expectations. Miller attributed this to intense competition in business and institutional lending, as well as deposit-taking. Lower lending volumes in New Zealand also contributed to the weaker results. continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Market commentary, TV Appearances.

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Australian investors, engrossed in the 2025 Federal Election, may have missed a seismic shift in the global financial landscape: Warren Buffett, the legendary investor and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, announced his retirement at the age of 94. On Saturday, during the company’s annual shareholder meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, Buffett revealed he would step down as CEO and chairman by the end of the year, handing the reins to Vice Chairman Greg Abel. continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Global markets, Market commentary.

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Labor’s resounding victory at the weekend’s Federal Election, securing a second term with a strengthened parliamentary majority, defied predictions of a close contest, possibly reflects the idealism of a new generation of voters, and grants Labor a mandate to advance a socialist policy agenda.

Victoria’s fiscal challenges however are the result of a long-term Labor government running a socialist agenda that has now run out of other people’s money. continue…

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

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A great deal has already been written about President Trump’s tariff policies, which have ignited a fierce debate among global investors and reshaped the landscape of international trade and economic strategy.

If every nation played fair, laid down their weapons, worked in harmony, peace and unity for a global common good, there would be no need for tariffs. But of course, such a world doesn’t exist on this side of Armageddon. In a world shaped by competition, dishonesty and insecurity, Trump sees tariffs as a way of resetting the compass. continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Market commentary.

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Australia’s aggressive pursuit of renewable energy, championed by the Teal independents and the Labor government, is sold as a path to cheaper electricity and a cleaner future. The promise is seductive: wind and solar will slash power bills while saving the planet.

Yet, recent events in Europe – most notably Spain’s massive blackout and Germany’s ongoing grid struggles – expose this narrative as dangerously naive. Forcing intermittent renewable energy onto aging grids without adequate investment in stability measures is a recipe for chaos, and this weekend, I suspect, Australia will vote to barrel down the same path. continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Energy / Resources, Market commentary.

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In the days following Trump’s tariff announcement, the S&P 500 plunged 10 per cent in just two days, 10-year treasury yields swung wildly, and gold, after touching a peak, stumbled. Add to this the backdrop of escalating global trade tensions – think U.S.-China tariffs – and it’s no surprise that investors are on edge. Meanwhile, consumers are wrestling with their own worries about inflation, jobs, and the economy’s trajectory. continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Market commentary.

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The U.S is careening toward a potential recession, propelled by a dramatic escalation in trade barriers, including unprecedented tariffs on imports from China, one of its largest trading partners.

Economists believe the sweeping “Liberation Day” tariff initiative could trigger a sharp economic contraction by summer, and the fallout is already evident across corporate earnings, consumer behaviour, and global trade dynamics. continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Global markets, Market commentary.

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President Donald Trump’s tariff policies have understandably sparked fierce debates, with supporters praising their intent to bolster American economic strength as a reflection of the nation’s geopolitical pre-eminence and critics warning of unintended fallouts.

At their core, these tariffs aim to reshape global trade dynamics in favour of the U.S. But are these measures a masterstroke for American prosperity, or do they risk unravelling the very economic stability they seek to secure? I thought it might be worth unpacking the motivations behind Trump’s tariffs, their potential upsides, and the complex consequences that could follow. continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Market commentary.

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