This week will I think mark a critical turning point across markets, as the higher for longer mantra finally took root on sticky inflation fears, geo-political tensions flared and the first flush of 1Q US results highlighted pressures on earnings ahead. All this drove a flight to the safest corners of the market such as … Continue reading "The Week The World Changed…"

Our latest Friday Afternoon chat with journalist Tarric Brooker as we look at the current data, which questions potential rate cuts, and housing trends, as demand stays strong while supply is limited. Below the water line we examine some of the underlying assumptions behind the numbers, and how politics have changed. Worse, the structural issues … Continue reading "It’s Another Fine Mess… With Tarric Brooker!"

Domain has released its Rental Report for March, which delivered more bad news for tenants, on top of the data I released recently which showed three quarters of those renting already have cash-flow issues. Younger families and first-generation Australians are being hit really hard, but as I discussed in my live show, other household categories … Continue reading "Tenants Caught In The Python-Like Property Squeeze Have To Pay More!"

Higher for longer is back baby, following the latest CPI data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics which came out today, for March. It was significantly up on expectations, the third month in a row this has occurred. This signals a fresh wave of price pressures that will likely delay any Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts … Continue reading "The FED’s Narrow Path Just Got Pot-Holed!"

The latest decision from the New Zealand Monetary Policy Committee was released on Wednesday, which was to leave the cash rate at 5.5%. Their key messages were little changed since the February MPS, showing little hurry to change current restrictive settings despite overall CPI inflation expected to fall below 3% this calendar year. Upside short-term … Continue reading "Kiwis Faced With Higher For Longer Rates Stuck At 5.5%!"

This is an edited version of a live discussion, as we look at the post code detail from our recent surveys, as the third part in our latest series. See the basis of our analysis here: So Who Is Really Feeling The Pinch? https://youtu.be/xvE-jPsGQUk See the mapping of our data here: Mapping The Pinch: Where … Continue reading "DFA Live Replay Q&A: A Deep Dive On Post Codes Feeling The Pinch"

More insights from our property insider, as we look at the issue of supply and migration, plus the impact of the recent flooding rains, and also the latest on listings and prices. How broken in the market at the moment, and how are agents playing psychological games with prospective purchasers? http://www.martinnorth.com/ Go to the Walk … Continue reading "Its Edwin’s Monday Evening Property Rant!"

This is our latest weekly market update. Last Wednesday, Fed Chair Jerome Powell retained a cautious stance towards future rate cuts in a speech to the Stanford Graduate School of Business. “Recent readings on both job gains and inflation have come in higher than expected,” he said, suggesting that the U.S. central bank will continue … Continue reading "Could The Bumps In The Road Turn To Potholes And Rate Rises Ahead?"

Banking is a game of confidence, in that if fears of a potential bank collapse arise, then naturally people who hold money at that institution will try to grab their cash, and run. The Global Financial Crisis, where many banks were saved by the use of public funds. But this means taxpayers are on the … Continue reading "Can You Trust Your Bank In A Crisis?"

Wherever you look, the news is not good for those wishing to see housing affordability relief. First demand for rentals continues to be powered by the overseas influx. New data from the Department of Home Affairs shows that at the end of February, the number of international students in Australia hit a record high of … Continue reading "Another Fine Mess For Australian Housing!"