NAB Morning Call

Friday 11th April 2025NAB Markets Research Disclaimer Financial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABYesterday’s rebound in US equities has proven to be very short-lived, with equities well down at the close in New York. NAB’s Gavin Friend says it’s a reality check, with the tariff war continuing between the US and China, and the question of whether Trump will be realistic in the deals he seeks with other countries over the next 90 days. We are getting close to the end of the week with an immense amount of uncertainty, although the Aussie dollar has managed to gain ground in the midst of it all. NAB, meanwhile, has revised its outlook for the RBA, expected a more aggressive path of rate cuts. Listen in for more on that.

Thursday 10th April 2025NAB Markets Research Disclaimer Financial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABA roller coaster session on the markets. It started yesterday during the day in Australia with massive selloffs in US bonds on the news of rising tariffs from China and the US. The US is now up to 125%, with China imposing 84% from tomorrow. NAB’s Ken Crompton says if there was a Laffer Curve for tariffs we are well beyond the point where revenue keeps rising. But late in the session President Trump announced a 90-day delay on some of the heftier tariffs – China excepted. Elsewhere a 10% tariff will apply, and world leaders have three months to negotiate. That’s resulted in a record turnaround in US equity markets, although bond markets are a little less convinced. 

Wednesday 9th April 2025NAB Markets Research Disclaimer Financial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABThe full set of US tariffs applies from midnight tonight in the US (2pm Sydney and Melbourne). Including the hefty ones with China. As NAB’s Sally Auld says, the China tariff is so high its basically an acknowledgement that they don’t want to trade with China anymore, unless a deal is done. There has been more talk of potential deals. If any of them come to pass it will be an indication that the Trump administration is willing to negotiate, rather than slavishly sticking to a principal of completely balancing trade with each country. Who knows? Certainly, the optimism in the markets early on in the session quickly diminished and stock markets closed well down in the US.

Tuesday 8th April 2025NAB Markets Research Disclaimer Financial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABMarkets were momentarily excited earlier when it seemed that the President might be delaying tariffs for 90 days. Up to that point US equities were continuing to spiral lower, but newfound optimism that Trump might moderate his approach saw a swift reversal. When it emerged that the story was nothing but fake news and, if anything, the President was digging his heals in harder, markets didn’t immediately return to their session lows. NAB’s Tapas Strickland says part of that could be because more CEOs are speaking out against the tariffs and that could force the plans to be rolled back. But, Phil asks, does that mean market have further to go if it becomes clear that the tariffs will stick, and go beyond a temporary negotiating tool.

Monday 7th April 2025NAB Markets Research Disclaimer Financial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABIn a world gone a little bit crazy, the only question is, how much crazier can it get? China has been the first to hit back at the US with retaliatory tariffs applied from April 10th. EU trade ministers are meeting today to discuss the next steps. If compromises aren’t found, what happens next? NAB’s Rodrig Catril says they are not forecasting a US recession just yet, although some are – like JP Morgan, for example. Jerome Powell was reasonably circumspect on Friday, saying the higher tariffs could prolong inflation w which could delay the Fed’s response to an economic downturn. Ironically, non-farm payrolls showed a US economy strengthening, but it seems the President is prepared to jeopardise short term economic stability in exchange for a significant change in the pattern of international trade. If that’s’ the case, negotiated deals this week seem unlikely.

Friday 4th April 2025Please note this communication is not a research report and has not been prepared by NAB Research analysts. Read the full disclaimer here.This week TCorp, the NSW Treasury Corporation, put out a report on the evolving financial landscape. They certainly picked an interesting week to launch it. Phil talks to TCorp’s chief economist Brian Redican about how Trump’s approach to trade has created uncertainty and how Australia, like other nations, will be looking for trade partners with the same attitude to free trade. And how, with less trade exposure to the US than the likes of Europe and Canada, and a rich seam of rare earth minerals, could this new trade environment could be beneficial for Australia?