Market commentary

The rush to Electric Vehicle (EV) ‘adoption’ surged globally following the outbreak of the war in Iran and the subsequent spike in fuel prices. In Europe, new EV registrations rose by roughly 34 per cent year-on-year (YoY) across 17 major markets, while some automakers like Renault reported a 50 per cent jump in their EV order books. 

Here in Australia, new EV uptake jumped nearly 50 per cent in the first month of the conflict, nearly doubling YoY sales to account for 14.6 per cent of all new car sales.

That these buyers weren’t buying before the war began might say something about motivations: less about being environmentally friendly and more about saving the hip pocket. continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Manufacturing, Market commentary.

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In my latest article for The Australian, I argue that the extraordinary enthusiasm surrounding SpaceX’s Initial Public Offering (IPO) may be a warning sign that markets are entering a late-stage speculative phase. Drawing parallels with major thematic IPOs that preceded previous market peaks, I examine how Fear of Missing Out (FOMO), passive investment flows, Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven optimism and a growing disconnect between valuations and fundamentals are creating conditions that resemble past market bubbles. The key question for investors is whether today’s market is being driven by sustainable earnings growth or by speculation that could ultimately prove unsustainable.

Download the article here: Gravity-defying SpaceX IPO flags warning of market crash landing

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Companies, In the Press, Market commentary, Market Valuation.

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If you want to know where the stock market might be headed, you have to look at the economic gravity being exerted by the bond market. Right now, U.S. stocks and bonds appear to be on a dangerous collision course.

Think of it in terms of a feedback loop: soaring stock prices have made U.S. households feel incredibly wealthy – with equity holdings sitting at a record 250 per cent of disposable income – which keeps consumer spending hot and inflation sticky. At the same time, tech giants are pouring billions into data centres, further heating up the economy.

As the new U.S. Federal Reserve Bank Chair, Kevin Warsh, just hinted, inflation won’t come down. So bond yields won’t drop until the stock market takes a meaningful breather to cool things off. continue…

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

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In my latest Firstlinks article, I explore whether artificial intelligence (AI) is following the familiar path of past technology bubbles. As businesses shift from AI experimentation to demanding measurable returns, the question becomes whether the trillions spent on AI infrastructure will ultimately generate enough revenue to justify today’s lofty valuations.

You can read the article via Firstlinks here: Have AI’s four horseman arrived? continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Economics, In the Press, Insightful Insights, Market commentary, Technology & Telecommunications.

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• POSTED IN Economics, In the Press, Insightful Insights, Market commentary, Technology & Telecommunications

Proposed changes to negative gearing, capital gains tax (CGT) and new Australian Taxation Office (ATO) rules for holiday homes could significantly alter the economics of property investing in Australia. By reducing the tax advantages associated with property ownership, the changes may weaken demand across several investor groups and influence property prices over time.

Drawing on supply and demand principles, this whitepaper paper examines how investors, rentvesters, property flippers, holiday homeowners and discretionary trusts could be affected. It also explores the potential impact on borrowing capacity, resale demand and the attractiveness of established residential property compared with new builds. continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Aura Group, Economics, Editor's Pick, Market commentary, Popular, Property, Whitepapers.

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“You cannot be afraid of new technologies. I think that this tenet passed Warren Buffett by. As he is the greatest investor of all time, I think it’s important to recognise that if he were not afraid of product cycles and obsolescence, he would have made much more these last few years than he did. Now, I know we shouldn’t criticise someone of his unbelievable prowess, but we must also recognise that it was wrong not to include technology stocks in the portfolio…[they] are creating too much wealth to ignore.”

With Musk now the world’s first recorded trillionaire after SpaceX’s float last Friday, you might be thinking the above quote has merit, especially as 60 per cent of Berkshire Hathaway’s portfolio is sitting in cash. 

But the above quote, by Jim Cramer, was made in January 2000, just three months before the Dot.Com crash wiped 76.81 per cent from the tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite index and investors saw an estimated US$5 trillion in paper wealth evaporate between 2000 and 2002. continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Economics, Editor's Pick, Global markets, Market commentary, Technology & Telecommunications.

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I joined Kirsten Aiken on ABC The Business to discuss the challenges facing Australia’s retail sector. With higher interest rates slowing the economy and uncertainty around proposed tax changes weighing on consumer confidence, spending has softened across age groups. We explored the pressures facing traditional retailers, the accelerating shift to online shopping, the impact of global competitors, and why department stores such as Myer and David Jones continue to face long-term challenges as consumer habits evolve.

Watch here: Challenges grow for the retail sector, Glue the latest to close. continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Companies, Consumer discretionary, Economics, Editor's Pick, Insightful Insights, Market commentary.

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SpaceX has some real businesses, but if I am completely lucid, I’d say there’s no business that would support its US$2 trillion valuation.

While the headlines are made by rockets and SpaceX’s reusable Falcon 9, which has radically changed the economics of sending cargo into orbit, slashing launch costs by 85 per cent to roughly US$2,700 per kilogram, it is Starlink that generated US$11 billion of last year’s US$18 billion in revenue. 

In fact, sending rockets into space doesn’t do a lot for the company’s finances. Indeed, SpaceX generates more revenue from renting out its NVIDIA chips to Anthropic than it does from rockets. continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Companies, Market commentary, Market Valuation, Technology & Telecommunications.

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With stock markets recently retreating marginally from artificial intelligence (AI)-fuelled record highs, the question many thoughtful investors are asking is: Will the bull run resume, or is this the beginning of a broader correction?

Of course, we can’t be certain but what we can know is that as stock prices continue to soar, fears of an AI bubble will likewise increase.

Financial markets have performed spectacularly since late 2022, and equities have accelerated their gains this year just as structural stresses begin to appear and debates about sustainability begin to intensify. continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Economics, Market commentary, Technology & Telecommunications.

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For the last three years, the corporate world’s relationship with artificial intelligence (AI) has been a lot like a toddler taking its first steps, or maybe a baby monkey trying to work out what to do with a camera.

Initially, there was The Era of Scaling and Praying (2022–2025), a typical phase after the invention of nearly every General Purpose Technology (GPT) since the railroad. During this period, tech giants invested hundreds of billions in infrastructure, creating huge engines even before knowing if their products would be useful or how they’d be operated. continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Market commentary, Technology & Telecommunications.

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