Reserve Bank of Australia
Another Australian Central Bank Interest Rate Hike
March 17, 2026
By a narrow 5-4 vote, the Board of the Reserve Bank of Australia pulled the trigger a a second consecutive 25-basis point hike of the Official Cash Rate, which at 4.10% will now represent its greatest elevation in ten months. Australian CPI inflation last month of 3.8% was above expectations and the central bank’s target […] More
Imploded Investor Confidence in Euroland, Some Central Bank Decisions, and the Alleged Death of Another Top Iranian Official
March 17, 2026
In overnight financial market action, The dollar has dipped 0.3% against the Australian dollar following a rise in Australia’s Officials Cash Rate. The dollar is also down 0.2% versus the Mexican peso, and by 0.1% relative to the euro, Swissy and sterling but flat against the yen following more hints from Japan’s finance minister of […] More
Softer Dollar, Stronger Equities, and an Australian Central Bank Interest Rate Hike that Was Generally Anticipated
February 3, 2026
The dollar fell most sharply overnight against the Australian dollar (-0.8%) and kiwi (-0.5%) but also dipped 0.1% relative to the Swiss franc and Canadian dollar. There’s been no net change relative to sterling or the euro and a 0.2% rise against the yen. Favorable corporate news played a big role in yesterday’s U.S. stock […] More
Central Banks In the Forefront
December 9, 2025
The Federal Open Market Committee’s two-day policy review begins today and is widely expected to cut the federal funds target interest rate by 25 basis points, matching the previous decisions in September and late October. A scheduled quarterly update of Fed forecasts and Chairman Powell’s press conference will be carefully gleaned for clarifying guidance to […] More
Look Out Below!
November 18, 2025
A plunge of as much as 29.2% in the price of Bitcoin from its early October high of $126,250 six weeks ago to today’s intra-day low of $89,369 this Tuesday reflects the spoils of a tariff policy gone bad, mounting unease over the equity bubble surrounding artificial intelligence, and the unraveling social cohesion of America. […] More
A Good Day for the Dollar but a Bad One for Equities
November 4, 2025
The dollar experience across-the-board appreciation overnight, rising on the weighted DXY basis past the 100.0 for the first time since the end of July and to its strongest such quote since May. Record highs against the Indian rupee elicited intervention support from the Reserve Bank of India, and Japanese Finance Minister Katayama expressed displeasure over […] More
Fed Rate Hike Still Widely Expected in September Despite a Mixed U.S. CPI Report
August 12, 2025
While overall U.S. CPI inflation of 2.7% last month was a tick under expectations, core inflation excluding food and energy rose 0.2 percentage points to 3.1%, crossing above the 3.0% threshold for the first time in five months. A tariff-led boost to goods prices was not discernible, but a 0.4% monthly advance in non-energy service […] More
Investors Following the Bouncing Tariff Ball and Are Meanwhile Surprised by an Unexpected Australian Interest Rate Decision
July 8, 2025
Continuing tariff policy uncertainty is making day-to-day financial market activity very choppy. President Trump had intensified tariff war fears on Monday by disclosing some hefty planned import levies, for instance 40% on goods shipped from Laos, 36% from Thailand, 35% from Serbia, 26% from Kazakhstan, 30% from South Africa, 25% from Japan, South Korea and […] More
Interest Rate Cuts in Australia and China
May 20, 2025
Australia’s OCR cut of 25 basis points to a 23-month low of 3.85% today was the second such move since February, but Governor Bullock and a released statement acknowledged significant changes since that initial reduction. Price risks have diminished, while the global landscape for growth now looks much less supportive. Bullock revealed that monetary officials […] More
Producer Price Disinflation and Chinese and Australian Interest Rate Cuts
May 20, 2025
The U.S. dollar’s biggest overnight move was a 0.9% advance against the Australian dollar that followed an as-expected cut in the Reserve Bank of Australia Official Cash Rate but also a more dovish-than-expected statement and press conference explaining the action. The weighted DXY dollar index ticked only 0.1% higher. Whereas U.S. stock futures are slightly […] More
