Market commentary
-
Cracks in the foundation – Australia’s growing housing crisis
David Buckland
August 4, 2025
Last week, I attended an Australian housing market update from Eliza Owen, Head of Research at Cotality (formerly Core Logic). Below are some key insights that I thought were worth highlighting. continue…
by David Buckland Posted in Market commentary, Property.
- save this article
- POSTED IN Market commentary, Property
-
Bubble, bubble, toil & trouble
Roger Montgomery
July 30, 2025
With apologies to William Shakespeare, signs of a bit of froth and frenzy have begun to be acknowledged in markets this last week. As we have previously noted, liquidity is the fuel for such episodes, and as long as liquidity remains abundant, we should expect more, rather than less, evidence of irrationality. continue…
by Roger Montgomery Posted in Market commentary.
- save this article
- POSTED IN Market commentary
-
No light for Australia’s poor productivity record
David Buckland
July 29, 2025
The Whyalla Steelworks was established in 1941 and employs 1,100 people. The Mount Isa copper smelter was established in 1953 and employs 550 people, and the Townsville refinery was established in 1959 and employs 500 people. Without enormous government subsidisation, all three businesses look like they will follow the Exxon Mobile refinery, Oceana Glass and plastics makers, Qenos and Trident, into oblivion. continue…
by David Buckland Posted in Energy / Resources, Manufacturing, Market commentary, Property.
-
Decoding mixed signals
Roger Montgomery
July 25, 2025
Financial markets are acting like a friend who says one thing but does another. Investors are sending conflicting messages about the economy, interest rates, and what’s coming next.
The mixed signals
Investors are betting that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates by up to two per cent over this easing cycle. Trump of course, always the glutton, wants even more. That’s a big deal – rate cuts of this size usually happen when the economy is in trouble or heading into a recession. Lower rates make borrowing cheaper, encouraging spending and investment to boost a slowing economy. continue…
by Roger Montgomery Posted in Market commentary.
- save this article
- POSTED IN Market commentary
-
How is it the iron-ore price remains so resilient?
David Buckland
July 17, 2025
Metallurgical or coking coal, a major input in steelmaking, has seen its price decline from US$670/tonne to the current US$183/tonne over the past three years. A global oversupply of steel, low steel prices and uncertainty regarding global trade has led to muted demand. continue…
by David Buckland Posted in Energy / Resources, Manufacturing, Market commentary.
-
Taxing our way to irrelevance
Roger Montgomery
July 14, 2025
The title of this blog post was going to be ‘How to mismanage an economy’. I decided against it because the cynical answer could seriously abbreviate the blog post to just, Give it to Victoria’s Labor government.
In Victoria, State Member for Warrandyte, Nicole Werner, recently outlined and commented on the state government’s imposition of yet another new tax. A new land tax on those running any business activities from their homes. continue…
by Roger Montgomery Posted in Market commentary.
- 5 Comments
- save this article
- POSTED IN Market commentary
-
Buffet’s litmus test for quality stocks
Roger Montgomery
July 10, 2025
When Warren Buffett was asked to distil the essence of investing success, he offered the following:
“Your goal as an investor should simply be to purchase, at a rational price, a part interest in an easily-understandable business whose earnings are virtually certain to be materially higher five, 10 and 20 years from now. Over time, you will find only a few companies that meet these standards – so when you see one that qualifies, you should buy a meaningful amount of stock. You must also resist the temptation to stray from your guidelines: If you aren’t willing to own a stock for ten years, don’t even think about owning it for ten minutes. Put together a portfolio of companies whose aggregate earnings march upward over the years, and so also will the portfolio’s market value.” continue…
by Roger Montgomery Posted in Investing Education, Market commentary.
-
Bitcoin mania?
Roger Montgomery
July 7, 2025
An examination of asset class returns over the last twelve months, including residential property in various capital cities, reveals Bitcoin’s superior performance. continue…
by Roger Montgomery Posted in Market commentary.
- save this article
- POSTED IN Market commentary
-
Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill Act
Roger Montgomery
July 4, 2025
In what some have described as a ‘dramatic’ 218-214 vote, the U.S. House narrowly passed President Trump’s US$3.4 trillion “Big Beautiful Bill Act,” a nearly 900-page tax-and-spending package that does mark a major victory for Trump and GOP (Republican Party) leaders. continue…
by Roger Montgomery Posted in Global markets, Market commentary.
- save this article
- POSTED IN Global markets, Market commentary
-
The latest AI goldrush – its not what you think
Roger Montgomery
July 4, 2025
The race to lead in artificial intelligence (AI) feels like a modern gold rush, but instead of more power or better performance, the latest race is for people – brilliant minds. continue…
by Roger Montgomery Posted in Market commentary.
- save this article
- POSTED IN Market commentary