Social Trends – Page 3 – Digital Finance Analytics (DFA) Blog

Inflation Fears Still Haunt (Especially Australia)…

The Washington-based IMF just published In its biannual world economic outlook, which said that central banks had scored a major achievement to return inflation to the pre-pandemic average without inflicting a global recession.

They go one to say that economic developments over the past four years have had a lot to do with how individual countries have deployed fiscal and monetary policies since the pandemic.

Australia’s choice to hold rates lower, whilst lifting government debt (across states and federally) with most new jobs created in the public sector, thus crimping productivity. This plus high migration has kept inflation well above band, and with little prospect of cuts any time soon, but so far have avoided a technical recession, although many households still are feeling the pinch.

New Zealand lifted rate faster and higher, and hit a recession, but is now cutting, has cut migration, and did not pump-up jobs in the public sector as Australia did. It will be interesting to see which strategy provides the better long-term outcomes.

But for now, the fear of entrenched inflation and higher interest rates for longer suggests that the inflation battle in Australia has yet to be won. And with an election due by May next year, this could well spell trouble for the current Government, though I am not sure the other mob are any better!

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DFA Live Q&A HD Replay: Can Property “Save” The Australian Economy? With Leith van Onselen

This is an edited version of a live discussion with Chief Economist at Nucleus Wealth, Leith van Onselen, who is also the co-founder of Macrobusiness. Given the raft of property related announceables from the politicians, will it make any difference, or are we set for a slow-down, or worse?

Original stream with live chat here: https://youtube.com/live/zRxdM8_o8JE

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Go to the Walk The World Universe at https://walktheworld.com.au/

https://digitalfinanceanalytics.com/blog/dfa-one-to-one/ for our One to One Service.

The Falls In Home Prices Are Accelerating: What Next?

Last Tuesday in my live show about the latest from our surveys, we walked through our scenarios, for property prices over the next 3 years, by each state. I’ll recap that segment from the show, but before I do here is a screen grab from Sydney Auctioneer Tom Panos, who says “The Sydney Real Estate Market is in a price fall. It’s a great time to buy in the next few months”. Well, it’s certainly looking like a buyers’ market, but not sure I would rush in now. Even Albo switched from an auction to private treaty for the sale of his investment property in Dulwich Hill! As Tom Panos put it, “they are not going to get crazy bidding on the day”.

Real Estate.com published an article on the 12th October 2024 with the title “$75k down in 3 months” The inner-city hotspots in freefall. The article referred to Brisbane.

Pressure on households is leading to a fall in consumption and savings. Second, consumer confidence is in the gutter, and third business investment is flat, suggesting that we may see unemployment rising ahead. In the light of that, I will let you decide which of our three scenarios looks most likely to eventuate. Oh and of course the RBA seems to be holding firm on higher for longer interest rates as bond rates also move higher.

So the bottom line, it’s a time for extra caution, especially as more investment properties on a net cash flow basis are under water. But as always its important to go granular and get the local data as each market is different, and also do due diligence on a property if you do decided to make an offer, as capital appreciation might be limited at best for the foreseeable future.

I will be discussing this further on my Monday Rant with Property Insider Edwin Almeida, so look out for that show tomorrow.

http://www.martinnorth.com/

Go to the Walk The World Universe at https://walktheworld.com.au/

More Records Broken, As Markets Swing Positive, For Now…

This is our weekly market update, a data-packed show where we start in the US, cross to Europe and Asia and end in Australia, covering crypto and commodities along the way.

The wild ride on the markets continued this week, with the S&P 500 and the Dow scoring record closing highs on Friday, thanks to big boosts from financial stocks after banks reported strong quarterly results despite the fact the latest inflation data fueled expectations for a smaller U.S. Federal Reserve rate cut in November. Traders kept bets steady for a roughly 88% probability the Fed would cut rates by 25 basis points at its November meeting, and a 12% chance it will leave rates unchanged. A slower pace of interest rate cuts potentially presents pressure on Wall Street, given that U.S. stock valuations scaled record highs on expectations of a sharp reduction in rates.

Major financial companies kicked off earnings season with upbeat comments from their top executives that should further ease investor worries that elevated borrowing costs were weighing on consumers and pushing the economy to the cusp of a downturn.

The US reporting season will gather momentum over the next three weeks amid general optimism. Still, concerns persist that stock prices have risen too fast, that the labour market is weakening fast and investors are on alert for geopolitical and US presidential election shocks.

European stock markets traded marginally higher on Friday, as investors digested lackluster British growth data.

China’s highly anticipated announcement of financial stimulus plans on Saturday was big on intent but low on the measurable details that investors need to ratify their recent return to the world’s second-biggest stock market. Saturday’s news conference by Finance Minister Lan Foan reiterated Beijing’s broad plans to revive the ailing economy, with promises made on significant increases to government debt and support for consumers and the property sector.

The Australian share market edged lower on Friday as traders awaited further signs of direction in the global economy after evidence of weakness once again reared its head in the US.

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Too Late! Kiwis Get Another Large Rate Cut, With More To Come…

Poor Kiwi’s have been hit by some of the highest interest rates in the western world, thanks to the aggressive OCR hikes from their Central Bank, as high migration stoked inflation, but still saw a recession. Then the RBNZ turns turtle and started to cut rates, as migration started to fall, along with home prices, and now they have another rate cut to contend with, as the economy remains weak, and international factors could push inflation higher again.

All up New Zealand’s economy has stalled, unemployment is rising and house prices are falling as the prolonged period of high borrowing costs curbs demand. Economists say inflation is now slowing rapidly, and some have warned it may undershoot the 2% midpoint of the RBNZ’s 1-3% target range. It’s a mess, and an object lesson in the impacts of long and variable lags.

This week, New Zealand’s central bank cut interest rates by half a percentage point, stepping up the pace of easing as policymakers become more concerned about the economic slowdown.

The Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee lowered the Official Cash Rate to 4.75% from 5.25% Wednesday in Wellington. It is the RBNZ’s second straight reduction after it began its easing cycle with a quarter-point cut in August. The decision was a policy review, which is not accompanied by fresh economic forecasts or a press conference.

ASB’s inflation forecast suggests a risk that inflation undershoots the 2% midpoint of the 1% – 3% inflation target. The fallout of aggressive monetary policy will stay with Kiwi’s for a long time. And the road remains bumpy at best. No wonder the number of New Zealand citizens leaving is up significantly!

http://www.martinnorth.com/

Go to the Walk The World Universe at https://walktheworld.com.au/