Blog - Page 3 of 59 - Raiz Invest

If you’ve watched the news lately, you will have seen that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has cut interest rates for the third time this year, bringing the official cash rate down by 0.25% to 3.60%.

After years of steady rate hikes, the trend has finally shifted. We’ve already seen several cuts this year, giving many Australian households some welcome breathing room.

So, when you hear about an interest rate change all over the news, you might be wondering, why should I care? and how does this actually affect me?

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Global markets had a strong week, with most major share indices hitting fresh highs. Investors were encouraged by signs that central banks may start cutting interest rates later this year, after softer inflation data in the US. Even with a hotter producer price reading (which reflects costs earlier in the supply chain), markets stayed upbeat.

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Global equity markets posted a strong rebound this week, with all major indices finishing in positive territory as investors welcomed solid corporate earnings and growing expectations of interest rate cuts. Trade developments remained in focus, as the US announced a 100% tariff on imported semiconductors while exempting companies that reshore manufacturing. Optimism also lifted over the prospect of a US-China trade truce, while the EU and US finalised a trade agreement introducing a blanket 15% tariff on most EU goods.

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Global markets ended the week on a softer note as disappointing US jobs data and geopolitical tensions weighed on sentiment. In the US, job growth slowed in July with 73,000 new jobs added compared to expectations of 100,000, while the unemployment rate nudged up to 4.2%. That’s led markets to believe the Federal Reserve is now more likely to cut rates in September. Volatility also picked up, reminding investors that markets don’t always move in straight lines.

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Raiz users have spoken, and we’ve listened. Thanks to our stock and ETF voting portal, you can directly influence what ETFs are made available in our Plus portfolios. The Raiz community has helped shape the future of our investment options, requesting ETFs designed to match diverse investing goals and strategies.

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Global markets had another strong week, supported by improving trade sentiment and resilient economic data. The big news came from the US and Japan striking a trade deal, while the EU is expected to finalise its own agreement with the US soon. In the US, the S&P 500 finished at another all-time high after advancing every day this week, boosted by a solid earnings season and signs of economic resilience. Greater China markets also rallied, with the Hang Seng and Shanghai Composite reaching levels last seen in early 2022 as infrastructure and materials stocks climbed following the announcement of a major hydropower project, while tech names surged after Beijing pledged to curb excessive competition.

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Global share markets pushed higher this week as investors largely looked past ongoing tariff headlines. In Australia, the ASX 200 saw its strongest weekly gain since May, closing 2.1% higher after notching a third record close. The rally was underpinned by robust economic data out of China and improving US-China relations. Locally, unemployment rose slightly to 4.3%, which has markets increasing their bets on a potential RBA rate cut next month. All major sectors closed in the green, particularly those sensitive to interest rate moves. Looking ahead, investors will be tuning in to the RBA’s meeting minutes and Governor Bullock’s speech for further signals.

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Tax time is here again, and even for the financially savvy amongst us, tax time can still be daunting and a bit of a chore. However, with a little help it doesn’t have to be so stressful.

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Australian shares slipped slightly this week with the ASX 200 down 0.3%, despite a strong NAB business survey and gains across five of the eleven major sectors, led by Utilities. The focus was firmly on the RBA, which surprised markets by holding the cash rate at 3.85%. This came despite a 90% expectation of a rate cut. The Board noted it’s more a question of timing than direction, signaling a wait for further confirmation that inflation is moving sustainably back toward target. 

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