NAB Morning Call

Monday 19th May 2025NAB Markets Research Disclaimer Financial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABThere’s a lot of talk going on right now and President Trump is at the centre of most of it. Phil talks to NAB’s Ray Attrill about a plethora of negotiations that could influence markets this week. First, the Trump call to Putin, followed by a call to Zelensky. Can he break the deadlock? There are also negotiations going on with the EU. Documents have reportedly changed hands, and JD Vance met with Ursula von der Leyen and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Sunday. It might  be in the nick of time, because Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Sunday that tariff levels will go back to April 2nd levels to those countries that haven’t negotiated with the US in good faith. And in the US, where Republicans have voted against the Big Beautiful Tax Bill, the spending committee is meeting now to plan a way through the standoff. On Friday markets reacted to the cut to

Friday 16th May 2025Please note this communication is not a research report and has not been prepared by NAB Research analysts. Read the full disclaimer here.It’s been a frantic week of deal making by the US President. Was this always part of the plan? To create a destabilising set of circumstances that whets the appetite for deals with the US? Phil asks Michael Feller whether that was the plan all along and, if so, are we over the worst of uncertainty, and should investors be planning for a renewed emphasis on global growth? Michael is chief strategist at Geopolitical Strategy in Sydney, who advise firms about navigating environments just like this. He’s a former finance journalist, investment strategist and spent many years in government, as a diplomat in Singapore, as senior adviser to Malcolm Turnbull, and director of the Department of Foreigner Affairs and Trade.Phil asks him, how should investors position themselves in a world dominated with tariff talk, but also riddled with geopolitical unrest, f

Friday 16th May 2025NAB Markets Research Disclaimer Financial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABSofter retail sales and slower growth in produce prices has upped expectations for the speed of Fed cuts this year, pushing bond yields lower today. It’s been a curious session, with NAB’s Ray Attrill saying equities, bonds and the dollar seem to be acting independent of each other. Oil is also forging its own path, driven down by expectations that President Trump will forge a deal with Iran which could see them adding to the global supply pool sometime soon. They also discuss yesterday’s Australian employment numbers and why we might have been bit optimistic to expect a 50bp cut by the RBA next week. But never say never. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thursday 15th May 2025NAB Markets Research Disclaimer Financial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABEquity markets were a little more restrained today, perhaps because there were no big announcements to drive the enthusiasm. Tech is the exception, that continues to move up. And deals with Japan and South Kores are close, apparently.  NAB’s Tapas Strickland says the lowering of tariffs on China has already had an impact, with container ship bookings rising sharply this week. Data out later will show us the impact the cuts had on retail sales and producer pries in the US in April. The US President is still in the Middle East, and will perhaps move to Turkey later today if Putin indicates he will show up for negotiations with Zelensky. But don’t count on it. There’s also an increasing focus on the Beautiful Bill - what form will it eventually take. The Wall Street Journal has described it as a Turkish Bazaar of ideas and there are concerns that it could add to debt without

Wednesday 14th May 2025NAB Markets Research Disclaimer Financial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABThere’s no denying, President Trump and his team are out to do deals and, right now, markets seem to be loving in. NAB’s Skye Masters talks through today’s market action, which has seen a significant rise in tech stocks, helped by news that restraints on the sale of NVIDIA stocks could be lifted for the UAE. The other big announcement during the President’s visit to the Middle East is a $142bndefence deal with Saudi Arabia. With all this positive sentiment, it seems investors that were underweight on US equities are quickly buying  back in to the market. The S&P is now higher than it was at the start of the year. And, as Phil discusses with Skye, the data we’ve seen over the last 24 hours – US CPI, the NFIB small business survey, NAB’s Australian Business Survey and Westpac’s consumer confidence, all came in a little better than expected. Today, aide from the next bit

Tuesday 13th May 2025NAB Markets Research Disclaimer Financial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABMarkets were taken aback by the size and immediacy of tariff cuts announced Monday between China and the US. Although we did highlight it as a possibility in yesterday’s podcast. NAB’s Gavin Friend says it wasn’t just the size of the tariff cuts, down to 30% on China and 10% on the US, but also the goodwill displayed after the weekend talks. Equities have risen sharply, the dollar is stronger, and markets are pricing in more rate cuts.  The news does make upcoming data a little less relevant. We get the US inflation print today - if its higher the US administration can say the lower tariffs should fix that. Just as the UK government can respond to higher unemployment -  if it happens today -by saying they have just proposed sweeping changes to immigration rules. That’s politics. And there’s a lot of it lately.GOT A QUESTION FOR NAB’S CEO? Phil will be talking to A

Monday 12th May 2025NAB Markets Research Disclaimer Financial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABUS Treasury Secretary Bessent said there had been ‘substantial progress’ in the negotiations with China over the weekend. Maybe the US is feeling the pressure, with stores warning of supply shortages. China, meanwhile, according to trade data on Friday, is exporting more, they’ve just switched the destination away from the US. Phil asks NAB’s Rodrigo Catril if China exports have a deflationary impact elsewhere (not the US), will we see more of a divergence in the approach taken by central banks? And could this be a big week for deals? With China? With other nations? And potentially positive talks over Ukraine with Putin and Zelensky supposedly set to meet face to face.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Friday 9th May 2025Please note this communication is not a research report and has not been prepared by NAB Research analysts. Read the full disclaimer here.The commercial real estate (CRE) market has struggled post-COVID, with working from home and online shopping both taking a chunk out of demand for properties. But the tide is starting to turn, with investment picking up and a stronger focus on building greener premises or adapting older buildings to meet new green regulations. It’s a Herculean task, with CRE contributing 18 percent of direct carbon emissions in Australia.Nonetheless, we are winning the battle, according to Natasha Mulcahy, the Pacific region director, ESG at the global commercial real estate consulting and investment firm CBRE. And NAB is doing its part. Paul Lennard is NAB’s Executive, Business Lending Products – his team includes a sustainable finance unit which has built a growing portfolio of around $2bn in green finance over three years, including the CRE sector. Natasha and Paul joi

Thursday 8th May 2025NAB Markets Research Disclaimer Financial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABMarkets have seen the positive side of the US-UK trade deal. It’s a sign that deals can be done to reduce tariffs, but NAB’s Ken Crompton wonders whether sentiment is running ahead of itself. Although there are some carves out for sectors, including steel, the UK base tariff rate remains at 10 percent. This for a country that already buys more from the US than it sells to them. For that the UK has reduced some of its tariffs and is expected to remove invisible barriers around agriculture. If anything, it could be seen as a sign that tariffs won’t move down far, even when a deal is done. Still, the US President gave another tip to buy shares because they are going to take off “like a rocket ship”. Beyond the optimism of the share market central banks are still grappling with the uncertain environment. The Bank of England vote was split three ways. The focus is on China this weekend, w

Thursday 8th May 2025NAB Markets Research Disclaimer Financial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABUS equity markets took a hit when the Fed announced no change in interest rates, even though it was expected by just about everyone. Then shares picked up as Jerome Powell gave his press conference, in which he talked up the current state of the US economy and said they were in a good place to cope with whatever comes down the track. He was uncommitted on any future decisions, saying they will have to wait and see what impact tariffs have on employment and inflation. NAB’s Gavin Friend talks through what was said. Meanwhile, China is not in wait and see mode. The PBoC cut base rates, cut lending rates further and eased bank reserve requirements. And the Bank of England is widely tipped to cut rates themselves today.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wednesday 7th May 2025NAB Markets Research Disclaimer Financial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABThe US President has made it clear there won’t be negotiations back and forth on tariffs, he’ll simply make the call. NAB’s Sally Auld says that accounts for most of the uncertainty in markets today, with big falls in equities again. The US dollar is weaker again, with the Aussie gaining some strength. The repricing in Asian markets, including the ‘violent repricing of the Taiwanese dollar’, will drag the Aussie higher in the process, says Sally. Today all eyes will be on the FOMC meeting, early tomorrow morning Australia time. It’ll be more about the words in the statement than the decision itself, which is firmly priced for a hold. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tuesday 6th May 2025NAB Markets Research Disclaimer Financial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABThere’s much less enthusiasm in the markets today, with US equities finishing deeply in the red at session lows, finishing a nine-day winning streak. There’s no readily apparent reason, except perhaps for concerns the scope and timing of US trade deals. The Taiwanese dollar rose further today over reports that a trade deal would be based on an appreciation in their currency. NAB’s Taylor Nugent talks through the latest tariff news, the latest Services ISM data for the US, as well as the declines in oil prices as OPEC+ increase supplies at a time of an expected global downturn.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Monday 5th May 2025NAB Markets Research Disclaimer Financial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABThere was a risk-on Friday, as the price of equities rose, and repricing of Fed rate cut expectations saw bond yields rising too.  NAB’s Tapas Strickland says there are two reasons for this optimism. First, the continued hope that some sort of truce will be found in the tariff war between the US and China, and secondly the strength in the labour market demonstrated in non-farm payrolls on Friday. The cautionary note is that this report is based on jobs held just a few days after ‘Liberation Day’. Still, no rush yet for the Fed to cut rates, hence the repricing. It was the opposite story  in Australia on Friday, where a surprise plateauing of retail sales reinforces the need for a cut at the next RBA meeting, as well as raising the case for successive cuts this year.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Friday 2nd May 2025NAB Markets Research Disclaimer Financial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABAustralian house prices are back on the rise, but how sustainable is this growth considering global economic uncertainty. Or will any potential external factors be more than offset by falling interest rates? Core Logic’s Eliza Owen joins Phil to discuss what’s been happening in Australia’s capital city and regional markets and where could see the most growth this year. Also, what influence will affordability have on the housing market? Could we see a situation where price growth slows when a peak in the price people will pay for rent starts to impact yields? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Friday 2nd May 2025NAB Markets Research Disclaimer Financial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABIt’s been a session heavy on news and data, largely seen as positive, particularly inequity markets although they lost some of their gains towards the US close. NAB’s Rodrigo Catril says two things were driving shares higher. First, yesterday’s string earnings results for Microsoft and Meta. Secondly, the Manufacturing ISM, although down, was better  than expected. Markets have taken that as a good sign and repriced rate cut expectations from the Fed, but Rodrigo is more cautious. Data from May and June will be more representative of the impact of the Trump trade agenda. On that, tonight’s, non-farm payrolls could be very influential. The continuing jobless claims overnight could be a warning sign, heading up to a multi-year high. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thursday 1st May 2025NAB Markets Research Disclaimer Financial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABMarkets responded to a larger than expected fall in US GDP reported this morning. But, as NAB’s Skye Masters suggests, equity markets clawed their way back in late trade. Perhaps its because the fall was largely driven by short term factors, in particular a much higher than expected level of imports, cars in particular, ahead of the imposition of tariffs. Canada saw a similar impact on their GDP read, whilst the European economy was exempt from such impacts. Yesterday’s Aussie CPI print gives no reason for the RBA to avoid a rate cut this month. They have been overly cautious on their outlook for inflation, says Skye. The focus now switches to US jobs, with non-farm payrolls tomorrow night, the weekly jobless claims tonight, and a weaker than expected growth number in the ADP figures last night. Plus the earnings or Meta and Microsoft. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more infor

Wednesday 30th April 2025NAB Markets Research Disclaimer Financial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABWe are in the thick of economic data today - Aussie CPI, European and US GDP, US wages and the core PCE deflator. We’ve just seen weaking confidence in the Conference Board’s latest survey. Yet equity markets continue to rise. In fact, the S&P has had its biggest six day rise since March 2022. NAB’s Taylor Nugent says some the optimism is the hope that tariffs will be wound back, with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick saying a trade deal has been reached, but he’s not going to say who with just yet. President Trump gives his big 100-day rally in a few hours’ time. It will be a beautiful thing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tuesday 29th April 2025NAB Markets Research Disclaimer Financial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABMarkets were more subdued for most of the session overnight, with shares in the US down until a reversal in the last hour of trade. The hopes of a quick resolution to US-China is seeming less likely. For a start, are the two sides talking? NAB’s Tapas Strickland says President Trump claimed he had spoken to President Xi, but China denies any negotiations are taking place. Meanwhile shipments from China are well down and will be felt in retail stores in a week or so. The Dallas Fed manufacturing general business activity index fell 20 points to -35.8, its lowest reading since May 2020, during COVID. UK economist Paul Krugman overnight likened it all to COVID, without a vaccine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Monday 28th April 2025NAB Markets Research Disclaimer Financial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABMarkets stayed positive through most of last week on the hope that trade deals will be done, and tariffs are being used as leverage rather than being a permanent fixture. But Phil asks NAB’s Ray Attrill what if deals aren’t done. A source report in the Wall Street Journal outlined the extensive topics to be covered in these deals. If solutions aren’t reached, does the US President reimpose his April 2 tariffs? He gives a big address of Tuesday, his 100th day in office, when that might be made clearer. Locally, CPI for Australia will be the key data point and will be highly influential on what the RBA does next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thursday 24th April 2025NAB Markets Research Disclaimer Financial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABThe US dollar will continue to slide, come what May. And probably come what June and July. Whilst he’s reluctant to be drawn too closely on timing, NAB’s Ray Attrill, head of FX strategy, says we can expect to see the US dollar fall another 10 percent, at least, with the Aussie returning about the 70 cent mark. Phil asks if that’s the best-case scenario; one where trade deals are agreed and tariffs minimised. What if the hefty tariffs return? Or Trump deposes Jerome Powell? Or the US heads into a recession? Whichever way you spin it, Ray says the US dollar is getting weaker and it’s not a short-term change. The weaker dollar could be around for a long time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.