May 2026
April 2026 was a month of stark contrasts across financial markets, with Wall Street posting its strongest monthly performance since November 2020 while Australian investors navigated a more turbulent path shaped by oil price volatility, geopolitical anxiety, and a domestic rate environment that only tightened further. The S&P 500 surged more than 9%, powered by a blockbuster corporate earnings season and the relentless momentum of AI-driven spending, while the ASX 200 clawed back a modest gain after giving up most of a mid-month rally. On the ground, Australia's property market continued to fragment along geographic lines, with Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide pushing higher as Sydney and Melbourne softened. And this morning, the Reserve Bank delivered a third consecutive rate rise, lifting the cash rate to 4.35% in an 8–1 vote, as the Middle East conflict keeps fuel prices elevated and inflation stubbornly above target.
