In yesterday’s interview on Statewide Drive with Jess McGuire, I discussed how 2025 is shaping up for investment markets. As we approached the U.S. presidential inauguration, global markets performed strongly, with the S&P 500 up 3 per cent and tech stocks, predominantly led by the ‘Magnificent 7,’ also showing gains. Meanwhile, Chinese markets struggled, down around 3 per cent year-to-date, driven by deflationary pressures impacting consumer spending.

On the interest rate front, several regions, including the U.S., Europe, the UK, New Zealand, and Canada, have seen rate cuts during the December quarter. Australia, however, has yet to follow suit, though there’s growing anticipation that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) could lower the cash rate from 4.35 per cent to 4.1 per cent, possibly in the February or May meeting.

You can listen to my segment from the 1:45-minute mark here: ABC Statewide Drive – How is 2025 shaping up for investment markets?