SHARE THIS During the fourth quarter, the MSCI World Index, S&P 500 and NASDAQ posted their weakest results since late 2008, pushing valuations to their lowest levels since 2014.
SHARE THIS Although the arrival of a new year has brought some optimism after a tough 2024, economic activity remains subdued in New Zealand. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand may further cut interest rates in 2025 with global uncertainties impacting the...
SHARE THIS The Federal Reserve is seemingly following in the footsteps of the Bank of Japan and adopting a strategy of monetary policy gradualism. This measured approach is aimed at balancing rate cuts with inflation expectations and stabilising the...
SHARE THIS In what has turned out to be an eventful year for interest rates, one of the major factors for New Zealand's bond market in 2024 has been the impact of monetary policy. We expect the Reserve Bank of New Zealand to continue monetary easing in...
SHARE THIS Asian local government bonds are positioned to perform well in 2025, supported by accommodative central banks amid an environment of benign inflation and moderating growth. We expect Asian corporate and bank credit fundamentals to stay...
SHARE THIS New Zealand's economy is faced with challenges including a weak currency, low productivity growth and slowed immigration. However, there are potential posi'tives, such as declining interest rates and possible gains in longer maturity bonds....
SHARE THIS With Japan overcoming deflation and ushering in a period of progress and consolidation despite market volatility and political upheaval, we expect Japanese companies to make strategic decisions in 2025 that attract global investors in larger...
SHARE THIS We believe that a changing political environment could present opportunities across asset classes in 2025, with fixed income in particular poised to benefit as markets adjust to more realistic inflation expectations.
SHARE THIS We believe that the biggest fundamental change for Asian markets in the medium term is a shift in the interest rates regime, notably that of the US.
SHARE THIS This month we assess why the market is unfazed by Japan’s upcoming leadership change; we also explain how a bid for a prominent Japanese convenience store operator has highlighted how affordable domestic firms now look in the eyes of their...
SHARE THIS As the November 2024 US presidential elections draw ever closer, we explore the global trade, economic and geopolitical implications from an Asian equity perspective, focusing on the uncertainties and opportunities that could arise if Donald...
SHARE THIS On 13 August, the Global Investment Committee held an extraordinary session to review the impact of recent volatile market movements. We maintain our central scenario for positive GDP growth in most major economies, although we see...
SHARE THIS We assess the extreme turbulence this week that rocked Japanese equities, which had reached record highs just last month. We discuss the factors that led to the sharp downturn at the start of the week and consider what could be in store for...
SHARE THIS Our central scenario is for positive GDP growth in most major economies, with mild upside risks to growth in all regions but Europe. Within this central scenario, we anticipate range-bound inflation with a gradual disinflationary trend in...
SHARE THIS The early economic cycle dynamics and cheap valuations in Asia contrast starkly with the expensive late cycle dynamics in the West, and we expect this to provide good diversification options for global investors.
SHARE THIS In the days immediately following 9-11, markets understandably fretted that consumer spending would collapse as people would be too scared to go out. In fact, spending picked up – even the author’s usually frugal spending increased.
SHARE THIS What a difference a month can make. Discussions have pivoted from interest rate cuts in the US to the possibility of an increase, while Chinese equities have rallied sharply on a combination of attractive value and hopes of effective policy...
SHARE THIS The Chinese economy and its equity market continue to be significant focal points in broader Asia. Additional support measures, combined with a recalibration of market expectations, have helped Chinese equities recover from the panic selling...
SHARE THIS The Global Investment Committee sees robust corporate earnings, firm employment and expectations for rate cuts keeping markets more buoyant than anticipated by average consensus estimates.
SHARE THIS One of Japan’s more recent economic releases made us sit up and take notice. Within the very resilient Q4 capital expenditure figures released this week was one important reinforcing indicator of Japan’s structural recovery, or in the Bank...