Katie Mazzoni, Author at Raiz Invest - Page 3 of 9

Global markets struggled this week as concerns over economic growth and inflation weighed on sentiment. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) cut rates by 25bps to 4.10%, its first cut since November 2022. While expected, the RBA maintained a hawkish stance, signalling caution over further easing. The ASX 200 fell 3.0%, its worst weekly loss since September 2022, with financial stocks down 7.5% following weak earnings results. The February reporting season has been mixed, with banking and mining sectors underperforming, while market volatility remains elevated.

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Global markets had a strong week, rallying on optimism over potential Ukraine peace talks, robust corporate earnings, and resilience in tech stocks. Investors largely looked past hotter-than-expected U.S. inflation data, with markets still pricing in rate cuts despite a more cautious stance from central banks.

In Australia, the ASX 200 gained 0.5%, reaching a new closing high on Friday as markets brushed off concerns about U.S. reciprocal tariffs. Industrials (+2.9%) led the charge, while Healthcare (-3.7%) struggled, weighed down by CSL’s results. The February reporting season is in full swing, with most earnings meeting or exceeding expectations, though some outlooks have disappointed, leading to sharp market reactions. Next week will be a key period for earnings, alongside Tuesday’s RBA decision, where markets are pricing in a 90% chance of a 25bps rate cut, though some analysts believe the odds are closer to 50/50.

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Global equity markets delivered a mixed performance this week as investors grappled with ongoing trade tensions, central bank decisions, corporate earnings, and key economic data. Tariffs remain front and centre, with Trump’s administration pausing duties on Mexico and Canada while moving forward with a 10% tariff on China. This caused ripple effects across markets, while gold prices hit near all-time highs as investors sought safety.

In Australia, the ASX 200 finished 0.2% lower for the week. Tariff headlines triggered early volatility, but the index rebounded midweek amid optimism around commodity price gains and hopes of progress in U.S. trade negotiations. Mining stocks led the recovery, while tech and consumer companies kicked off the February earnings season. The Australian dollar rose 0.9% to US62.74c, bouncing back after a volatile few sessions.

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Global markets faced turbulence this week as trade tensions weighed on investor sentiment, resulting in broad declines. While weeks like this can be concerning, it’s a reminder of the importance of staying diversified and consistent with your investment strategy. By spreading your investments across different sectors and regularly contributing through market ups and downs, you give yourself a better chance of achieving long-term success.

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Since launching in the first week of January, over 18,000 Raiz Jars have already been created by Raiz users! Raiz Jars is a new feature that allows you to create personalised “jars” to work towards specific goals while investing seamlessly. Whether it’s for something big, like your first home, or something small but meaningful, like a weekend getaway, Jars make it easier to plan, track, and invest for what matters most to you.  

The sheer variety of goals being set is inspiring, and it’s clear that Australians are rethinking how they approach financial planning. Here’s a look at how early adopters are using Jars and what it says about our collective priorities.

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It’s been a dynamic week in global markets, dominated by U.S. President Trump’s inauguration and his first-day executive orders. Most major equity indices finished in the green, buoyed by a tech-led rally in the U.S. and a strong week for Japanese and Australian markets. Here’s what moved the markets:

In Australia, the ASX 200 rose 1.2% for the week, supported by a strong performance in Technology (+3.5%) and a rebound in Materials and Energy stocks. Local markets benefited from Trump’s announcement of a major AI infrastructure joint venture, which drove gains in tech. The Australian dollar hit a five-week high, climbing to US63.14c, as Trump signaled a more conciliatory approach toward China after a “friendly” discussion with President Xi Jinping. However, profit-taking in bank stocks on Friday capped some of the week’s momentum.

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This week, global markets were buoyed by softer-than-expected U.S. inflation data and strong economic indicators from China, boosting optimism about rate cuts in 2025. The ASX 200 posted modest gains, while Wall Street and European equities rallied significantly.

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Global markets had a mixed week, driven by key economic data and shifting rate cut expectations. The ASX 200 managed a 0.5% gain, supported by cooling core inflation.
In Australia, the ASX 200 advanced as investors responded positively to core inflation data, which dropped to 3.2% in November from 3.5%. Job vacancies also rose for the first time in two years, bolstering the market’s view that the RBA could cut rates as early as February.

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It’s been a busy week in the markets, and as we close out the year, there’s plenty to unpack. The S&P 500 jumped 1.3%, the Nasdaq climbed nearly 2%, and the Dow Jones gained 0.8%. It’s a promising setup, but the Australian dollar has had a tough run, down nearly 9% against the US dollar this year. That weaker Aussie dollar could complicate things for the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), as it may keep inflation a little too high for comfort.

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