Braun Financial Group

11/08/2026

In a move widely predicted amongst the industry, the RBA monetary policy board unanimously decided on Tuesday 11th August 2026 to leave the cash rate at 4.35 per cent for the second straight meeting.

26/07/2026

Talking points for Monday 27th July 2026:
• Employment in Australia hit a new peak of 14.8 million. The jobless rate stayed at 4.4%, a full percentage point under the decade average of 5.4%.
• Downsizing costs are keeping older couples in large family homes, a Senate committee heard, leaving roughly 13 million bedrooms unused. Prices are softening but transaction volumes have thinned as owners cling to properties carrying grandfathered tax benefits.
• Weekend housing auction clearances came in under 50% for the ninth week straight, the weakest run since 2018.
• Washington and Riyadh signed a civilian nuclear cooperation pact, framed by the US Department of Energy as a multibillion-dollar partnership stretching over decades.
• Washington slapped a 50% duty on a range of Canadian goods including dairy, milk and alcohol. Canada, together with China, was one of only two countries to hit back against last year's tariff round.
• The Trump administration imposed a 12.5% tariff on Australian exports from Friday, part of a broader move hitting 60 US trading partners over alleged lax enforcement of forced labour bans. The measure landed as the temporary 10% global tariff expired.
• Trump signalled an imminent hit on an Iranian nuclear facility. Crude climbed to US$91. Goldman Sachs flagged a path to US$120 should Strait of Hormuz disruption drag into late 2026.
• Outlays on the Iran conflict have reached US$37.5 billion, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said, well above the US$25 billion figure cited before April's short-lived ceasefire. He is now seeking up to US$70 billion in additional emergency funding.
• Berlin will channel investment into defence start-ups, mirroring a recent US move. Officials framed it as a productivity and innovation push for a manufacturing base under pressure from Chinese competitors. Some observers argued direct procurement would achieve the same goal.
• The US 30-year Treasury yield has closed above 5% for 12 sessions running, its longest such run since 2007.
• Google's forthcoming Frozen v2 processor will embed Gemini architecture directly into the silicon. The company claims this will cut compute overhead and makes token serving six to ten times more energy efficient. Launch is slated for 2028.
• Demand for Meta's AI data centre capacity has been robust, according to CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who said inbound requests to buy access arrive almost weekly. Meta and Anthropic are close to signing a US$10 billion arrangement giving Anthropic access to Meta's compute.
• The semiconductor index closed more than 20% below its late June high on Friday, tipping into bear territory. The move followed Chinese group Kimi launching its K3 model, positioned as a competitor to Anthropic's Fable.
• Growth super funds in Australia posted a fourth straight year of 9%-plus returns, averaging 9.5% over the past 12 months, with US technology exposure the main driver. UniSuper topped the table at 12.3%, ahead of NGS Super and Colonial First State on 11.5%, and Hostplus on 10.8%.
• Shemara Wikramanayake is stepping down as Macquarie Group CEO after eight years. The first woman to run the firm, she oversaw a 150% lift in market capitalisation and was routinely ranked among the country's best-paid chief executives.
• APRA has granted Revolut a banking licence, clearing the UK-based fintech to accept federally guaranteed deposits. It already counts more than a million Australian users.
• A note published in error revealed Firmus intends to draw from the state-owned irrigation network for its data centre operations. Farmers have called on the company to act as a responsible corporate citizen.
• Fenway Sports Group, owner of the Boston Red Sox, is negotiating the sale of a 30% stake in Liverpool FC at a valuation of A$8.6 billion. Fenway acquired the club for around A$576 million in 2010.

17/05/2026

Talking points for Monday 18th May 2026:

• US equities held up despite Friday’s oil-and-yield shock, while the ASX fell and crude jumped: The S&P 500 finished at 7,408.50, up 9.57 points or 0.13% for the week, after a 1.24% fall on Friday, while the Nasdaq Composite closed at 26,225.14, down 21.93 points or 0.08% for the week, after a 1.54% Friday decline. The move was still underpinned by earnings, with FactSet reporting blended Q1 S&P 500 EPS growth of 27.7%, 91% of companies having reported, and 84% beating EPS estimates. The S&P/ASX 200 finished at 8,630.8, down 113.6 points or 1.30% from the prior Friday’s 8,744.4, with Friday’s 9.9-point or 0.11% fall leaving the local benchmark lower across the week. Brent settled at US$109.26 per barrel, up 3.35% on Friday and 7.87% for the week.

• Bond yields reset higher as the energy shock kept inflation risk front and centre: The US 10-year Treasury yield ended at 4.60%, up 23.1bp from 4.36% the prior Friday, while Australia’s 10-year yield finished Friday at 5.08%, up 8.5bp from 4.99% the prior Friday. The inflation backdrop hardened after US April CPI rose 0.6% month-on-month and 3.8% year-on-year, with energy up 17.9% year-on-year and gasoline up 28.4%, while final-demand PPI rose 1.4% month-on-month and 6.0% year-on-year. Australia’s domestic inflation backdrop also remained uncomfortable, with March CPI at 4.6% year-on-year, transport prices up 8.9%, and trimmed mean inflation steady at 3.3%.

• Trump visits Beijing with a US business delegation. Elon Musk, Jensen Huang and a roster of American chief executives joined the trip. The opening request to Xi was a more favourable operating environment for US companies. Xi appeared receptive, stating he wants the two nations to be "partners not rivals". The comment follows several years of strained bilateral relations.

• Iran ceasefire under strain. The month-old truce has been weakening since the US and Iran exchanged strikes. Trump dismissed Tehran's latest proposal as a "piece of garbage" he "didn't even finish reading". Uranium enrichment remains the central obstacle. Iran continues to reject US and Israeli demands to dismantle its nuclear programme, leaving little common ground.

• Modi urges Indians to conserve fuel. The Prime Minister is asking citizens to use fuel "sparingly" through carpooling, remote work, and reduced non-essential travel. The Strait of Hormuz blockade is tightening Asian fuel supply. Nearly 90% of the region's oil and gas imports passed through the waterway last year, leaving the continent particularly exposed.

• US 30-year Treasury yields clear 5% for the first time since 2007. The catalyst was the inflation print. Funding costs are rising as Washington prepares to issue more debt to support military spending. Higher rates and rising issuance are an unhelpful combination for the federal budget.

• Hantavirus outbreak reaches eleven cases. The MV Hondius docked in Spain on Sunday following an outbreak of the rodent-borne disease on board. Passengers have disembarked under WHO monitoring. Eleven cases have been confirmed. Three have been fatal.

• Negative gearing and the CGT discount trimmed, not removed. Treasurer Jim Chalmers handed down the 2026-27 Budget. As expected, negative gearing and the CGT discount were both targeted. Negative gearing will be restricted to new builds, with existing arrangements grandfathered. The 50% CGT discount is being replaced by cost base indexation at inflation and a minimum 30% CGT rate. The primary residence exemption and superannuation tax settings remain unchanged.

• Chalmers argues CGT reform will support equity allocations. With most of the public debate focused on housing, the Treasurer pushed back on the view that the changes will make it harder for younger Australians to build wealth through shares. His argument is that the 1999 discount actively shifted private capital toward residential property and away from equities. Removing it, in his view, should do the reverse.
• Start-up sector warns on CGT. Founders and early-stage investors say the country risks losing its next generation of entrepreneurs without a carve-out. The proposed model leaves founders, early employees, and investors paying materially higher taxes on profits when companies are sold. The concern is that future builders will relocate offshore.

• Federal Court rules against Coles. The judge found that most of the "Down Down" promotions did not represent genuine discounts and misled consumers. The decision is a long-anticipated blow for the supermarket sector. The ACCC initiated proceedings against both Coles and Woolworths in 2024. A parallel ruling on Woolworths is still to come.

• Gold Coast Trump Tower shelved. Plans for the $1.5 billion development have been abandoned less than three months after the deal was struck. The developer described the Trump brand as "increasingly toxic in Australia". Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate maintains the decision came down to financing rather than politics.

• Lithium gains 50% in a month. The price reached almost US$2,960 a tonne in March, now 415% above last June's low. The move followed a record 1.75 million EV sales over the same month. ASX-listed producers rallied accordingly: Elevra Lithium +43%, Liontown Resources +35%, Mineral Resources +21%, and Pilbara Minerals +19%.

• CBA records its largest single-day decline. Shares fell 10.4% after the bank set aside an additional $200 million in provisions for Middle East conflict risk, and investors digested the housing tax reforms. ANZ, NAB, and Westpac also fell. The market is questioning whether mortgage credit growth slows in the wake of the Federal budget changes to taxation.

• CSL writes down $7 billion in assets. The impairment ranks among the largest in Australian corporate history. The company also cut its full-year revenue and earnings guidance. Shares fell 16% to their lowest level in nearly a decade. Competitive pressure in the core blood plasma business and declining US vaccination rates remain the principal headwinds.

• BHP reaches a record high. The miner's market capitalisation has climbed to approximately $315 billion, overtaking Commonwealth Bank to reclaim its position as the largest stock on the ASX. Copper trading above $14,000 a tonne is driving the move. Renewed Chinese demand is the underlying catalyst.

• DroneShield falls 10% on ASIC investigation. The regulator is examining trading activity in a particular two-hour window. On 10 November, a company announcement lifted the share price. The CEO, chairman and a director then sold $2.4 million in stock. The announcement was subsequently withdrawn. ASIC is now examining the sequence of events.

With thanks to Pinnacle Investment Management.

17/03/2026

With everything going on globally right now, it comes as no surprise that the Reserve Bank has lifted the cash rate by another 25 basis points to 4.1%.

The move comes as inflation pressures start creeping back in, largely driven by rising oil prices and ongoing instability around the world. Unfortunately, whenever fuel goes up, everything else seems to follow - and households end up feeling the squeeze.

It looks like the RBA is determined to stay on the front foot to keep inflation under control, even if it means more pressure on mortgages and everyday living costs.

Interesting times ahead… let’s hope this is a short-term spike and not the start of another run of increases.

03/02/2026

The RBA governor Michele Bullock has lifted interest rates by 25 basis points following its first meeting of 2026.

The official cash rate is now set at a benchmark 3.85 per cent.

Interest rates are now back where they were in July 2025, further pain to come to the hip pocket.

07/09/2025

Happy Father's Day from Braun Financial Group!

20/05/2025

Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock has announced a cut to the official cash rate by 25 basis points to 3.85%.

25/04/2025

ANZAC Day 2025 🇦🇺

Lest We Forget 🌺

Pleased to have paid our respects today.


This captivating image is used with absolute thanks to principal photographer Brad Stewart from Brad Stewart Creative QLD AUSTRALIA.

07/04/2025

ASX 200 dives, Volatility spikes.

The ASX 200 is down 15.8% from its February 14 record high and trading at levels not seen since December 2023. What was once a 4.3% year-to-date gain has evaporated, leaving the index down 12% for 2025.

The selloff comes as fears of a global trade war and recession intensify, triggered by China’s retaliation to President Trump’s latest 'Liberation Day' tariff barrage.

25/03/2025

The 2025 Federal Budget introduces cost-of-living relief through tax reductions, lower energy costs, reduced prescription co-payments, and other supportive measures.

Braun Financial Group has developed a range of resources to help you navigate the key proposals.

Summary of Key Proposals:
- From 1 July 2026, all taxpayers will benefit from moderate tax cuts.

- Eligible Australian households and small businesses will receive an extra $150 energy rebate.

- The standard co-payment for Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme medications will decrease to $25 for individuals without a concession card.

- All families will have access to at least 72 hours per fortnight (three days per week) of subsidised childcare without needing to meet the activity test.

- Concessions will be introduced to ease student debt and repayments.

- The ‘Help to Buy’ program will be expanded, allowing for higher income and property price thresholds.

Note: These changes are proposals only and may or may not be made law (unless stated otherwise).

Budget Interview with Hon Dr Jim Chalmers MP:

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers has unveiled his financial blueprint as the nation inches closer to a closely fought election — as it happened.