The recent 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, was a mix of strategic ambition and political posturing. Officially themed “Strengthening Multilateralism for Fair Global Development and Security,” the summit aimed to promote intra-bloc trade and security cooperation....
Economy
Chalmers’ RBA Dilemma: Striking a Balance Between Reform and Free Market Principles
Introduction: A Timely Reminder from Howard Marks As Treasurer Jim Chalmers seeks to modernise the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) with one of the most substantial reforms in decades, Howard Marks’ latest memo serves as a reminder of the dangers of interventionist...
Understanding the Latest CPI Data: Is Inflation Moderating?
As investors, staying informed about economic indicators is crucial to making sound investment decisions. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is one such indicator, providing insights into the inflationary trends within the economy. Today, the Australian Bureau of...
Re-Born in the USA: Who will Benefit from the Reshoring Trend?
In recent years, the trend of deglobalisation and “reshoring”—bringing manufacturing production back home to the US—has gained momentum. This shift is accelerating due to the Biden administration’s investments, tax incentives, and a tougher stance on China’s...
BYD’s Relentless Rise Threatens Tesla’s EV Dominance
China's journey in vehicle production is a tale of rapid transformation and global ambition. From its early days of manufacturing basic, low-cost cars, China has grown into a powerhouse of innovation, particularly with the rise of electric vehicles (EVs). Central to...
Autonomous Innovations Flying Under the Radar with Huge Potential
New technologies like AI and generative AI are at an inflection point, infiltrating our daily lives from work to play. Tools like ChatGPT have become household names, with each iteration bringing astonishing improvements. However, flying more under the radar is the...
Why This Building Services Company’s Stock Doubled In 12 Months
Technology advancements, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI), have been pivotal in driving market dynamics recently, with notable companies like Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), Meta (NASDAQ: META), and Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG) experiencing significant stock price...
Navigating the Tug of War Between Interest Rates and Inflation
Sometimes the macroeconomic outlook changes like the weather, and investors find themselves sailing in a crosswind of uncertainty. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is ensnared in a catch-22 dilemma: whether to raise rates to tame inflation and risk plunging the...
Big Tech Earnings Review – Alphabet and Microsoft
Few entities wield as much influence as tech behemoths Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) and Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG). These tech titans' quarterly performances serve as litmus tests for market sentiment and economic health. As stalwarts in their respective domains, Microsoft's...
CHIPS: Megatrends and Mega Funding
We first highlighted the importance of semiconductors back in April 2023 when we introduced the concept of megatrends. Back then, we used the example of the automotive industry and the increasing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), and highlighted how investing in...
Japan’s Post-COVID Normal & Decoding Central Bank Speak
In a noteworthy decision on Tuesday, March 19, the Bank of Japan (BOJ) announced an increase to its benchmark interest rate for the first time since 2007. Japan has endured a prolonged period of “ultra loose” monetary policy since the Global Financial Crisis (GFC), as...
All Time Highs: Japan’s Revival
On 22 February 2024, Japan’s Nikkei 225 closed at ¥39,098.68, eclipsing the previous record high set in December 1989–a staggering 34 years ago. As we highlighted in a prior article, Japan went through a truly extraordinary boom in asset prices through the 1980s that...