NAB Morning Call

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, with trade data, CPI and PPI and the start of those trade talks.

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.  

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.

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.  

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. 

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?

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.

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.

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.