Today on Ausbiz I joined Sue Lannin to discuss the striking similarities between the 2011 iron ore boom and today’s artificial intelligence (AI) investment frenzy. Back then, surging optimism and over-investment in mining services ended abruptly when supply outstripped demand. I’m seeing echoes of that now in AI, with forecasts of trillions in annual spending that don’t appear sustainable or supported by realistic revenue. With companies like Meta and Microsoft already under pressure, I believe we’re nearing the end of this boom as investors start questioning whether the numbers truly add up.

Watch the episode on Ausbiz here: What does the AI Boom have to do with iron ore?

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by Roger Montgomery Posted in TV Appearances.

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In U.S. trading overnight, Nvidia achieved a market capitalisation of US$5 trillion, after which Microsoft, Meta Platforms and Google’s parent company Alphabet delivered their September quarter earnings.

The results were impressive, as expected. Microsoft reported Q1 revenue of US$77.67 billion, beating estimates of US$75.33 billion, with earnings per share (EPS) of US$4.13, surpassing the US$3.67 forecast. Continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Market commentary.

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Fourteen years ago, in 2011, a commodity boom in iron ore saw BHP’s share price hit $40 for the first time. It was the 8^th of April 2011. There was great excitement, surrounding Australia being the ‘lucky’ country yet again. Peter Richardson, Morgan Stanley’s then global metals chief economist, put forward a strong investment case for the “crucial” steelmaking commodity.

We will see Morgan Stanley again soon.

By contrast, on April 11 that year we published a blog Will China demand Iron… or…?, where we wrote that iron ore prices would henceforth decline, ending the commodity boom and causing buoyant share prices to fall. Continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Market commentary.

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I joined Paul Turton on ABC Newcastle Mornings yesterday to discuss how markets remain strong but expensive, with investors shifting from artificial intelligence (AI) stocks to safer sectors like healthcare and utilities. Despite record highs, valuations suggest future returns may be lower. I explained that while a correction isn’t inevitable, there are promising opportunities in smaller, innovative companies that are starting to outperform larger ones.

You can listen to the full episode from 39:45 here: ABC Newcastle Mornings

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by Roger Montgomery Posted in Radio.

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Earlier this month, Nvidia – the company at the heart of the artificial intelligence (AI) boom – announced it had agreed to invest up to US$100 billion in OpenAI to help the Large Language Model (LLM)-maker fund its data centre build out. In turn, OpenAI agreed to fill those data centres with Nvidia Chips.

If it sounds odd, it is. That’s because it’s akin to convincing Nick Scali to buy you a house if you agree to fill it with Nick Scali’s furniture.

In fact, the Nvidia/OpenAI deal was immediately criticised for being ‘circular’. Continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Market commentary.

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On this week’s video insight, I discuss how two seemingly separate developments –Jerome Powell signalling an end to quantitative tightening (QT) and surging U.S. subprime auto loan delinquencies – may together warn that the equity bull market is running on fumes. Liquidity support could soon become more targeted, banks may tighten lending, and stretched equity valuations could face pressure. Now is a prudent time for investors to rebalance: rotating profits from high-growth names into defensives, holding some cash for volatility, and perhaps exploring adding uncorrelated assets like private credit or arbitrage funds to their portfolios. Continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Market commentary, Video Insights.

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As headlines mount, I wonder whether the nascent disorder in U.S. subprime auto loans becomes a bigger fissure into which a stretched stock market could fall. With stock valuations hovering at historically stretched levels, even a hint of a macroeconomic or financial fracture could precipitate a correction. Continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Market commentary.

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There are many consequences of gold’s vertical ascent to new all-time highs. One of course, is the queues of first-time buyers forming outside gold bullion stores around the world. A more subtle consequence, however, is the emergence of arguments that justify the rally and inspire those queues.

Throughout history, gold has functioned as both a store of value and a safe haven during times of monetary, political, and economic upheaval. Unlike fiat currencies or the assets of specific corporations, gold’s value isn’t linked to the fortunes of any one nation’s economy. This quality renders it especially attractive during crises such as wars, rising inflation, financial downturns, and global health emergencies. Its reputation for stability, its widespread recognition and universal and historical acceptability, has positioned gold as a go-to hedge against systemic threats and the erosion of currency value. Continue…

by Roger Montgomery Posted in Market commentary.

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