December 2024 Market Snapshot

Welcome to summer—a season of activity, last-minute tasks, and celebrations with family and friends. We take this opportunity to wish you and your family a joy-filled and safe festive season!

While headline inflation eased to 2.8% in the September quarter, the Reserve Bank remains firm on interest rates. RBA Governor Michelle Bullock acknowledges that the drop in the cost of living may offer welcome relief for most of us, but the Board’s key focus is on trimmed mean inflation, which still isn’t “sustainably” within the desired target range of 2-3%. According to the RBA, it’s unlikely to reach that range until late 2026.

The share market reacted sharply to the Governor’s comments in the final days of a month that had seen several all-time highs. US President-elect Trump’s promise of 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods also contributed to the billion-dollar share sell-off. Nonetheless, the S&P/ASX 200 finished November 3.4% higher.

The Australian dollar also took a hit, driven by concerns over potential US tariffs and the RBA’s interest rate outlook. It fell to a seven-month low, dipping below 65 US cents near the end of the month.

In positive news, the ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence Index, while slightly down, has remained above 85 points for six consecutive weeks—the first time in two years. Meanwhile, Commonwealth Bank projections anticipate a boost in sales for small businesses, driven by Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales and the upcoming festive season.

If there’s something affecting your financial situation that you’d like to discuss, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team.