The US Federal Reserve has cut interest rates by 25 basis points but surprised investors by signaling a reduced forecast for future cuts. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones is on track for a 10-day losing streak, potentially marking its worst performance since 1974. In corporate news, Birkenstock shares are climbing amid a surge in demand for sandals, while speculation of a Honda-Nissan merger has sent ripples through the European car market. On the currency front, the US dollar has hit its highest level since November 2022, putting additional pressure on the Australian dollar, which continues to slump. Looking ahead, Aussie shares are expected to open lower on Thursday, weighed down by declining iron ore prices.

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The Aussie market closed flat today despite an optimistic start, as lunchtime weakness erased earlier gains. Investors are now eyeing the U.S. Federal Reserve's final interest rate decision for the year, expected to deliver a 25 basis point cut, marking three consecutive cuts since September. Market attention will shift to the Fed’s economic outlook and potential rate movements in 2024. Locally, sectors showed mixed performance, with healthcare and industrials faring best, while financials and materials slipped. Meanwhile, company news included NAB’s AGM and updates from Xero and ANZ, while dividend payouts from Westpac and others are on the horizon.

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Wall Street has extended its losses as investors remain cautious ahead of the upcoming Federal Reserve decision, following strong retail sales data. The Dow Jones Index is on a nine-day losing streak, its longest since 1978. Energy shares weighed on the S&P 500 as oil prices declined, with Amentum emerging as the index's worst performer after forecasting a hit to its FY25 growth. Oil-related stocks dragged markets to two-week lows in Europe as banking shares struggled. Commodities were also under pressure, with copper prices falling to a two-week low amid surplus concerns, while oil prices slid further on weak economic data from China and Germany. Looking ahead, Aussie markets are expected to open flat as investors await the Federal mid-year economic and fiscal outlook.

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Bitcoin soared to another record, while the Aussie stock market rebounded, snapping a tough five-day losing streak with the ASX rising 0.8%. Financial stocks led the gains, rising 1.1%, while energy underperformed as the sector remains the year’s weakest. Notably, tech platform PEXA surged following the appointment of a new CEO, while Data#3 plunged 10% due to changes in Microsoft incentives. Bitcoin’s sharp rise—up 55% since November—has also caught attention. Looking ahead, retail spending data out of the U.S. is expected to drive global market discussions, while NAB’s AGM and dividend payouts will headline the local agenda tomorrow

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Wall Street has posted mixed results, yet chipmakers continued to surge. The NASDAQ reached a record high, driven by gains in Broadcom and Alphabet, while Nvidia entered correction territory after a significant rally. Meanwhile, Bitcoin has hit a record high, partly attributed to former President Trump's strategic reserve initiative. Bond yields remained flat ahead of the US Federal Reserve's interest rate decision. In Europe, German shares declined following Chancellor Scholz's loss in a confidence vote. Looking ahead, Australia is poised for a flat start to trading, as the ASX extended its losing streak to five consecutive days.

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The Australian market continued its downward streak, with the ASX hitting a four-week low amidst weak Chinese retail data and falling commodity prices. China's slower-than-expected retail growth raised concerns over consumption and the country's ability to meet its 5% annual growth target, which impacted resource stocks like BHP and Rio Tinto. Mining and energy sectors remain some of the year's worst performers, down 15% and 20%, respectively. Meanwhile, corporate news saw mixed reactions, with HMC Capital suffering steep losses after backing DigiCo’s underwhelming ASX debut, while Star Entertainment rose following a management shake-up. Looking ahead, key events include global manufacturing data, U.S. retail sales, and the Federal Reserve's inflation update, alongside local updates on consumer confidence and AGMs from major banks like NAB and ANZ.

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Wall Street consolidates as investors await the Federal Reserve's upcoming decision. On Friday, the Dow Jones marked its seventh consecutive day of losses, its longest losing streak since 2020. Meanwhile, AI-related stocks surged on optimistic forecasts, with Broadcom reaching a historic milestone by hitting a $1 trillion market cap for the first time. Tesla shares also gained momentum as the regulatory outlook for automated driving systems improved. Looking ahead, Aussie shares are poised to decline for a fifth straight day.

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The Aussie market faced a downturn this week, dropping for four consecutive sessions and reaching a one-month low, despite hitting record highs just last week. The Reserve Bank of Australia’s dovish tone signalled potential rate cuts in early 2025, while unexpected jobs data added complexity to rate predictions. Chinese stimulus hopes buoyed materials stocks early in the week, but declines in most sectors, led by tech and gold miners, overshadowed gains. Key market movers included Insignia Financial, buoyed by a Bain Capital buyout offer, and Ventia Services, which faced sharp losses. Looking ahead, investors will focus on AGMs, economic data from China, and the U.S. Federal Reserve’s pivotal interest rate decision

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US producer prices have seen a notable jump, driven by higher egg costs, though categories closely monitored by the Federal Reserve showed softer increases. Weekly jobless claims in the US rose unexpectedly, signaling potential shifts in the labor market. In corporate news, Adobe shares dropped as slower subscription spending weighed on investor sentiment. Meanwhile, in Europe, a trifecta of central banks cut interest rates in response to evolving economic conditions. Over in China, the government pledged further debt and rate cuts as looming tariffs from the Trump era raise concerns. Gold prices slid from a five-week high, while the US dollar strengthened on the back of fresh inflation data. Looking ahead, Aussie shares are expected to edge lower, pressured by declining commodity prices.

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The market has taken a tumble today coinciding with an update on Aussie jobs growth with results which caught the market off guard and dropped expectations of a February rate cut.  Steve is solo today unpacking this data, and the upcoming data that could make all the difference around this decision.  There is a plethora of international happening including rate cuts internationally which Steve discusses, and he looks at the performance of local sectors with tech seeing some gains. 

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Wall Street experienced a strong rally as investors reacted positively to U.S. inflation data showing the largest consumer price gain in seven months. The NASDAQ reached a record high of 20,000 points, buoyed by impressive year-to-date gains in stocks like Nvidia and Tesla. Meanwhile, the European Union agreed on a new sanctions package against Russia, underscoring geopolitical tensions. In Canada, the central bank aggressively cut interest rates to bolster its economy. Closer to home, the ASX 200 futures signalled a solid gain as investors focused on upcoming Australian jobs data, even as the Aussie dollar faced downward pressure.

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