Frontier market update – February 2024

Principal Consultant KC Low discusses the key developments in financial markets at the start of 2024.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) had its first meeting of the year, where the cash rate remained unchanged. Inflation is continuing to moderate but remains high. The RBA also noted that a further increase in rates cannot be ruled out. The overall expectation is still that the RBA is at the peak of interest rate rises, but the market now expects the rate cut to happen later in 2024.

Interest rates seem to have peaked across key developed economies, but the common theme amongst central banks was ‘we’re not there yet’ on rate cuts.

KC also explains the impact of declining office tenancy in the US on banks, with some announcing large losses on their property debt investments.

Disclaimer

Frontier Advisors provides asset consultancy services to the Trustee. The Trustee also engages Frontier Advisors to provide market and investments updates to members of First Super.

Frontier Advisors is responsible for the information in this presentation.