In the July 2018 edition of the Market Update:
- US core consumer prices lifted in line with the Fed’s 2% inflation target, vindicating June’s rate hike.
- Slowing credit growth and infrastructure spending is pointing to softer Chinese growth for the June quarter.
- Australia’s labour market continues to tighten, but employment growth and hours worked have lost momentum and wage growth is subdued.
- US tariffs on US$34 billion worth of Chinese goods came into effect in early July, with China responding in kind with tariffs on key American exports.
- European political tensions are on the rise, with the UK’s Brexit plan resulting in ministerial resignations and Italy’s budget likely to delay deficit reduction.
There’s more commentary, plus our usual tables with all the key market data on Shares, Interest Rates and Property in the linked document below.