The RBA’s decision this week to lift the cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.10% marks the second consecutive increase in 2026, confirming a shift back toward monetary tightening after last year’s short-lived easing cycle. This report explores the outlook for the RBA’s upcoming decisions in light of the impacts of the conflict in the Middle East and Australia’s own macroeconomic conditions.

Demand for magnet rare earths is expected to roughly triple over the next decade, driven by structural thematics including electrification. The market is also becoming increasingly bifurcated, with strategic demand for ex-China supply supporting pricing premiums and long-term offtake agreements for Western producers, including Lynas Rare Earths (LYC).

Markets remain volatile and skittish, with the Middle East conflict and surging oil prices remaining the focal points. At the same time, Australia faces the sub plot of an increasingly hawkish RBA, This report explores the implications of the war in Iran for the global oil market and economic performance, as well as the upcoming decisions of the US Fed and the RBA.

The Healthcare sector has struggled to break out of its multi-year downgrade cycle, weighed down by negative consensus earnings revisions from sector index-heavy companies. With the sector valuation remaining attractive, we identify and explore compelling bottom-up opportunities that stand out.

The US-Israel attack on Iran looks, by some measure, to be the most significant of recent geopolitical upheavals that have included Trump’s interventions in Venezuela and Greenland. This report explores the potential fallout of the latest conflict in the Middle East, including its impact upon the global energy market, equities and fixed-income assets, as well as broader geopolitical implications.

The February 2026 interim reporting season has concluded, reinforcing the market’s ongoing earnings upgrade cycle, as anticipated. In this report, we examine the key themes from the second half of reporting season, focusing on the Technology sector, Supermarkets and the Mining majors, building on our Half-Time Report.

Last week’s January CPI data reinforces the view that Australian inflation remains too high. Market pricing for a hike at the May 5th RBA board meeting looks fair and reasonable in our view. This report explores the prospects for inflation in Australia and the RBA’s corresponding response, as well as the impact on investment markets.

Today we are launching the CG Australian Equity Focus Portfolio, our in-house model portfolio. The Focus Portfolio’s objective is to outperform the ASX 200 over rolling 3–5 year periods by investing in 25–30 large and mid-cap Australian equities. In this report, we provide an overview of our investment approach and our current positioning.