Core Viewpoint - The Australian dollar (AUD) has strengthened significantly, reaching a 14-month high against the US dollar (USD) due to a combination of hawkish signals from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), expectations of US Federal Reserve (Fed) rate cuts, and favorable commodity prices driven by China's recovery [1][2]. Group 1: Economic Indicators - As of December 31, 2025, the AUD/USD exchange rate reached 0.6700, reflecting a daily increase of 0.12% and an annual rise of over 7% since the low of 0.6420 in mid-November [1]. - Australia's inflation rate in October was reported at 3.8%, exceeding the RBA's target of 2%-3%, with December inflation expectations rising to 4.7% [1]. - Market pricing indicates a nearly 50% probability of an interest rate hike by March 2026, with mainstream forecasts suggesting a potential increase to 3.85% in the first meeting of the year [1]. Group 2: Market Dynamics - The RBA's hawkish stance is a key driver of the AUD's strength, while the Fed's easing expectations have contributed to a decline in the USD index by over 10% for the year [1][2]. - The Fed has implemented three rate cuts since September 2025, with current rates at 3.50%-3.75%, and further cuts are anticipated next year [1]. - The AUD benefits from rising commodity prices and improved trade balances due to recovering exports of iron ore and coal, alongside positive expectations from China's targeted investment plans [1]. Group 3: Technical Analysis - The AUD/USD has formed an upward trend from 0.6420, currently consolidating around 0.6700, with resistance at 0.6727 and support at 0.6650 [2]. - The MACD indicates that bullish momentum remains, although it is slowing, while the RSI (14) is at 66.4278, suggesting that the market is not yet overbought [2]. - Institutions are optimistic about the AUD's future, with target prices ranging from 0.72 to 0.92 USD, although risks such as global economic slowdown and trade tensions may limit gains [2].

Group 1 - Global long-term bond yields have returned to their highest levels since 2009, indicating a growing consensus that the easing monetary policy cycle by central banks is nearing its end [1] - The U.S. Treasury market is experiencing unusual movements, with yields rising despite expectations of a rate cut by the Federal Reserve, driven by concerns over persistent inflation and a significant budget deficit [5] - The shift in market sentiment has led to a "disappointment trade" across developed markets, as investors reassess inflation risks and the implications of rising public debt [4] Group 2 - The increase in global bond yields is attributed to both a shift in monetary policy expectations and the surge in government debt and fiscal expansion plans [6] - Major developed markets are seeing rising bond yields, with expectations that the European Central Bank has little room for further rate cuts and that the Bank of Japan is likely to raise rates soon [1][4] - Governments are planning significant fiscal expansions, such as Germany's record €52 billion defense order, which is influencing investor perceptions of long-term financing impacts [7]

Group 1 - Global stock markets surged on July 23 due to the US-Japan trade agreement, leading to a decline in market risk aversion and a shift from bonds to stocks [1] - US Treasury yields rose slightly, with the 2-year yield increasing by 5 basis points to 3.88%, the 10-year yield rising by 5 basis points to 4.4%, and the 30-year yield up by 5 basis points to 4.95% [1] - The focus is now on the Federal Reserve's monetary policy meeting on July 29-30, where it is widely expected that interest rates will remain unchanged despite political pressure for cuts [3] Group 2 - The S&P 500 index is expected to rise further as the US economy withstands the global trade war, although unpredictable trade policies and attacks on the Fed's independence could trigger market declines [4] - European stock markets rose on hopes of a trade agreement, with bond yields increasing across the board, including a 6.7 basis point rise in the 10-year German bond yield to 2.666% [4] - In the Asia-Pacific region, Australian bond yields also rose, with the 2-year yield increasing by 2 basis points to 3.355% and the 10-year yield up by 3.6 basis points to 4.332% [4] Group 3 - Japanese bond yields increased overall, with the 10-year yield reaching a high of 1.6010%, the highest since October 2008, before closing at 1.594% [8] - The US Treasury plans to issue $201 billion in bonds, including $95 billion in 4-week and $85 billion in 8-week short-term bonds, amid expectations of significant short-term debt issuance [8][9] - The actual net financing needs of the US Treasury in Q2 reached $514 billion, exceeding earlier estimates by $391 billion, indicating a strong demand for short-term bonds [9]