Australian shares moved lower this week, with the ASX 200 down 0.6% as declines in consumer staples and healthcare outweighed gains in the energy sector. Investor attention is increasingly turning to the upcoming Federal Budget, with potential changes to the capital gains tax discount in focus. While Australia has remained an outlier in the global rate hiking cycle, recent hawkish holds from other central banks suggest policy could stay tighter for longer.
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Have you ever opened your Raiz app and seen your return in the negative?
Maybe you’ve been watching the news and seen that big red arrow when commentators talk about the share market falling?
It’s normal to feel a bit uneasy, especially when you’re new to investing. Seeing red can trigger that instinct to react straight away. But when it comes to investing, what feels big in the short term often looks like just a blip when you zoom out and look at the longer-term picture.
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Australian markets faced a softer week, with the ASX 200 easing 1.8% as economic data pointed to a more challenging backdrop. Activity levels remained modest while price pressures picked up again, particularly in housing where rents continue to push higher. While this keeps inflation in focus, there are also signs that policymakers are actively working on longer-term solutions, including efforts to manage public spending. Encouragingly, corporate activity remains strong, with companies like NextDC raising significant capital to support future growth, showing continued confidence in Australia’s long-term outlook.
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For many Australians, a home loan is one of the largest financial commitments they’ll take on. But over time, changes in interest rates, property values or personal circumstances can create opportunities to reassess how that loan is structured.
One option some borrowers explore is refinancing. While it’s often discussed in the context of reducing repayments or securing a different loan structure, refinancing may also play a role in broader financial planning, including freeing up capital that could be used for other purposes, such as investing.
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Australian shares edged slightly lower this week, with the ASX 200 down 0.2%. Higher fuel prices continued to flow through to the broader economy, pushing inflation expectations to their highest level since 2022. Business surveys also pointed to renewed cost pressures, while both consumer and business confidence weakened, raising concerns about the outlook for growth and household spending. Despite this, the technology sector stood out, rising 13.0% on the back of positive momentum from US mega cap tech.
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With geopolitical tensions making headlines, it’s natural to feel uncertain about what it means for your investments.
Markets don’t like uncertainty. But history shows they don’t stay unsettled forever.
Let’s unpack what typically happens, and what it could mean for investors.
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Australian shares rose strongly this week, with the ASX up 4.4% as global risk sentiment improved. While markets responded positively, underlying consumer data pointed to a more cautious outlook. Indicators such as job ads and vehicle sales suggest spending was already slowing before recent geopolitical events. At the same time, inflation pressures picked up, with higher fuel prices pushing the Melbourne Institute Inflation Gauge to 4.3% year on year, highlighting a more challenging near-term outlook for both policy and growth.
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Right now, inflation feels unavoidable.
You see it in headlines. You hear it on the news. You feel it at the checkout.
It’s the moment you tap your card at the supermarket and think, wasn’t this cheaper last year?
It’s filling up the car and noticing the total climb. It’s your rent or mortgage costing more than it did 12 months ago.
That’s inflation in real life. Your money is not stretching as far as it used to.
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Australian markets delivered a steady and encouraging performance this week, with equities rising 0.7% as confidence in the domestic economy remained firm. A tightening labour market and a stronger trade balance supported the outlook, while strength in commodities, particularly gold exports, provided an additional boost. At the same time, moderating housing prices and slower credit growth helped ease concerns around further policy tightening. Corporate activity also remained constructive, with several capital raisings and a successful new listing highlighting continued investor appetite and support for growth initiatives across the market.
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The Reserve Bank has announced another 0.25% rate increase on the 17th of March, making it the second rise for 2026. After last year’s cuts gave many households a bit of breathing room, this is a reminder that interest rates can turn quickly, and when they do, everyday budgets usually feel it fast.
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