NAB Morning Call

Friday 25th September 2026Please note this communication is not a research report and has not been prepared by NAB Research analysts. Read the full disclaimer here.As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms from a speculative tech trend into the primary driver of global market returns, how are institutional investors actually positioning their capital for the road ahead? This Phil Dobbie sits down with Damien Webb, Chief Investment Officer for Brighter Super, fresh off an insightful trip to Silicon Valley meeting with frontier AI labs, quantum computing founders, and top academic minds. Damien shares why his boots-on-the-ground experience left him overwhelmingly optimistic about the tech supercycle—and why superannuation funds can't afford to sit on the sidelines. From the soaring commodity demand for copper and energy infrastructure to revolutionary medical breakthroughs in GLP-1 drugs and cancer treatments, how do institutional investors balance high-valuation risks against transformative upside? Is the ongoing surge in global bond yields the ultimate reality check for tech balance sheets? Tune in for a fascinating dive into portfolio construction, private equity opportunities, and what riding in an autonomous Waymo car reveals about our economic future!

Friday 2nd October 2026NAB Markets Research DisclaimerFinancial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABFrance's escalating budget woes and fiscal watchdog criticism have sent sovereign bond markets into a tizzy, causing French-German yield spreads to widen sharply. On today's edition of the NAB Morning Call, Phil Dobbie and NAB's Ken Crompton break down these mixed global signals—from France's budget strain to rising US manufacturing prices and mortgage rates hitting 7.28%. Despite lower US Treasury yields following a brief flight to quality, the US dollar remains firm while crude oil rebounds above $102. The pair also examine Australia’s Financial Stability Review, falling job vacancies, and what today's key US Non-Farm Payrolls report means for upcoming Fed rate expectations.

Thursday 1st October 2026NAB Markets Research DisclaimerFinancial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABGlobal financial markets are navigating a sharp divergence between the US and Europe, driven entirely by conflicting inflation trends. On today’s edition of the NAB Morning Call, Phil Dobbie speaks with NAB’s Skye Masters to unpack why resilient US economic data, cooler-than-expected Core PCE prints, and upward GDP revisions are supporting Wall Street, even as 10-year Treasury yields push toward 5.30%. In contrast, hot European inflation prints across Germany and France are weighing on sentiment and lifting ECB rate hike expectations. Meanwhile, the Australian dollar has slipped below 69.5 US cents following softer-than-forecast domestic inflation data, which has led markets to tone down expectations for back-to-back RBA rate hikes.

Wednesday 30th September 2026NAB Markets Research DisclaimerFinancial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABFollowing the Reserve Bank of Australia’s unanimous decision to raise the cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.60%, market attention has shifted to Governor Michele Bullock’s post-meeting press conference. NAB's Taylor Nugent says her commentary hinted that the RBA may be returning to its "narrow path" balancing inflation control against labour market conditions, softening some of the hawkish expectations for follow-up hikes. Meanwhile, global bond yields continue their upward trend, pushing 30-year US Treasuries to multi-decade highs, as markets digest a softer US JOLTS job openings report, declining US consumer confidence, and European inflation updates. Looking ahead, today brings Australia's August CPI data alongside the US PCE inflation report and Chinese PMI reads.

Tuesday 29th September 2026NAB Markets Research DisclaimerFinancial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABAs crude oil holds above $105 a barrel and US 10-year Treasury yields surge to 5.24%, markets are grappling with how much further central banks can push policy rates to restrain persistent inflation. On today’s podcast Phil talks with NAB Chief Economist Sally Auld ahead of the Reserve Bank of Australia's rate decision. Sally notes that while US growth resilience and structural Capex demand are driving global yields higher, Australia’s cooling PMIs and softening business survey data suggest the RBA is operating in a vastly different cyclical environment than its peers. The pair also examine Nvidia’s historic $150 billion share buyback, the US-China tariff cuts and key global data reads including US JOLTS and Canadian GDP.

Monday 28th September 2026NAB Markets Research DisclaimerFinancial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABDonald Trunp has knocked back Iran’s proposal that could have seen the Strait of Hormuz reopen within seven-days. Instead, the US President believes economic sanctions will ultimately have the desired outcome. So, does that mean oil prices will bounce higher this morning? NAB’s Ray Attrill says the volatility will continue, but news this morning suggesting talks are ongoing might temper any negative sentiment. It’s a busy week ahead with the RBA decision tomorrow, CPI middle of the week and payrolls data for the US.

Friday 25th September 2026Please note this communication is not a research report and has not been prepared by NAB Research analysts. Read the full disclaimer here.The hipsters live inside the goat’s cheese curtain before they start a family and move to the burbs in search of their quarter acre block. That’s the traditional pattern of life in Australia, but demographer Bernard Salt, from the Demographics Group, says major changes are afoot. Fertility rates of younger people are falling faster than expected, and people are living longer than forecast. It’s not an Australia-only phenomenon of course, but it brings forward the peak-human horizon. This week Bernard joins Phil to discuss how the changes are good news for Australia, but only if we have a plan.

Friday 25th September 2026NAB Markets Research DisclaimerFinancial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABThe "V" word is firmly back on the agenda as geopolitical friction, soaring energy prices, and relentless sovereign yield pressures inject fresh ‘volatility’ across global markets. This morning Phil and NAB’s Taylor Nugent break down the forces driving crude oil back over $106 a barrel as Red Sea insurance premiums soar and Middle East tensions escalate. Meanwhile, sovereign bond markets continue their dramatic bear steepening amid a persistent chorus of hawkish Fed commentary and lukewarm Treasury buyback demand. Closer to home, Australian unemployment has jumped to 4.6% despite solid headline jobs growth, while NAB’s Q3 Business Survey reveals tightening margins and deteriorating trading conditions. After the announcement of a trade truce extension, will the Trump-Xi meeting today offer further geopolitical relief?

Thursday 24th September 2026NAB Markets Research DisclaimerFinancial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABThe US dollar and global bond yields have risen sharply. NAB’s Ray Attrill says a bit part of this was stronger than expected PMIs, particularly for the US. It shows demand isn’t falling, whilst oil supplies remain a concern. So much of a concern that the US is limiting diesel exports to shore-up its domestic supplies. The US is attempting to bring down longer dated yields with a $6 billion buyback today. Phil asks, if it didn’t work last time, what will be different now? Australian labour market data is out later today, but the path for the RBA already seems to be set. And President Xi sets foot in the US today; an extension to the moratorium on tariffs is the best that can be hoped for.