Worldwide Financial Planning

In monthly terms, CPI was 0.3% (consensus: 0.1%), compared to 0.6% in March. Similarly, core CPI inflation (ex-energy, food, alcohol and tobacco) came in at 3.9% (consensus: 3.6%) vs 4.2% in March.

An end to the interest rate hiking cycle would be welcomed by US consumers, who have seen new US mortgage rates spend four weeks above 7% for just the third time this century. Despite this, new home loan applications increased by 2.3% in the week ending August 25.

While the market is easily fooled by headlines so too, unfortunately, are central banks. The true state of the economy won’t be clear for months so policy makers have to make do with the data they have, while the impact of today’s decisions won’t be apparent for another year.

The outlook hasn't really altered but investors are expecting both inflation and interest rates to remain higher for longer.

So start with learning from the past. Why didn’t other resolutions work and why did some actually succeed.

The imposition of new security laws on Hong Kong by China has eroded the territory's independence and looks set to end the 'one country, two systems' approach.