NAB Morning Call

The truth about oil 01.06.2026 17мин

Tuessday 2nd June 2026NAB Markets Research Disclaimer Financial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABPhil Dobbie and NAB’s Sally Auld delve into a turbulent market session where geopolitical theatre and conflicting macroeconomic signals pulled global asset classes in opposite directions. Crude oil spiked toward $98 a barrel early in the session before cooling down to just over $95 after a flurry of Truth Social posts from Donald Trump claimed he had negotiated a halt to the fighting in Lebanon, smoothing the path for U.S.-Iran diplomatic talks. While Wall Street pushed to fresh record highs solely on the backs of surging IT and energy stocks—buoyed by a strong U.S. manufacturing ISM accelerating to 54—the domestic focus shifted heavily to a much softer-than-expected Australian housing print. Sally highlights that this property slowdown represents a powerful alignment of compounding RBA rate hikes alongside significant changes to investor tax arrangements. While it remains early days, she notes that the combination of these forces could create a larger housing downturn cycle than initially anticipated. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Still Waiting Game 31.05.2026 12мин

Monday 1st June 2026NAB Markets Research Disclaimer Financial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABPhil Dobbie and NAB’s Taylor Nugent check the pulse of a global market that remains suspended in a cautious holding pattern. Friday’s wave of optimism—which pushed the S&P 500 and Nasdaq to fresh all-time highs and drove Brent crude down near the $90-a-barrel mark—has run into a wall of silence following a highly anticipated White House meeting on a 60-day Gulf ceasefire. With the administration maintaining that the Strait of Hormuz must open unconditionally and toll-free, and hints that the U.S. will remain patient for a "good deal," traders are left wondering if a lack of concrete updates will cause oil prices to drift higher once again. This geopolitical stalemate completely overshadowed a significant batch of central bank commentary and data: Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey suggested that weak economic growth may prevent energy-driven inflation from feeding into wages, while early European CPI indicators revealed surprising downward price pressures, with headline prices in Germany dropping 0.2% month-on-month. Meanwhile, despite a temporary water fee waiver softening Tokyo's core CPI, Taylor notes that Japan's strong industrial production and tight labour market mean there is still nothing to stand in the way of the Bank of Japan delivering another interest rate hike at its June meeting. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Weekend Edition: Strait to the dinner table 29.05.2026 24мин

Friday 30th May 2026Please note this communication is not a research report and has not been prepared by NAB Research analysts. Read the full disclaimer here.While the market's attention has been transfixed by oil and gas, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has triggered a secondary, far more dangerous shock for Australian food security: a massive fertilizer crisis. Phil sits down with Paddy Rombola, Chairman of Advantage Agriculture, to unpack why Australia's 80% reliance on imported nitrogen-based fertilizers has left our agricultural sector critically exposed to a global supply chain where the Middle East controls nearly a third of all urea exports. With domestic urea prices skyrocketing from A$700 to an eye-watering A$1,900 per tonne in May, local farmers are being forced to cut back crop nutrition rates just as meteorologists warn of an incoming "super El Niño" drought across New South Wales and Queensland. Paddy outlines the immediate risk to consumer supermarket shelves, warning that while precision agronomy can help buy time, a looming fruit and vegetable supply crunch means everyday Australians should brace for significant food price inflation over the next six to nine months. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just a nod from Donald 28.05.2026 15мин

Friday 29th May 2026NAB Markets Research Disclaimer Financial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABNAB’s Rodrigo Catril joins Phil to discuss the latest reports that U.S. and Iranian negotiators have finalized a 60-day memorandum of understanding to extend the ceasefire and begin talks on Iran's nuclear program. This crucial step, which would see the Strait of Hormuz gradually reopen toll-free, now reportedly just needs a nod from the US President activate, but its obviously more complicated than that. This glimmer of diplomatic progress pushed Brent crude down below $94 a barrel, completely overshadowing a mixed bag of U.S. economic data. While the annual core PCE deflator held sticky at 3.3%, annualized Q1 GDP was revised down to 1.6% and corporate profits took a surprise 0.4% squeeze. Despite cooling growth and comments from the Fed's John Williams that policy could go either way, Wall Street brushed off the headwinds, sending the S&P 500 to a fresh all-time high. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Softer CPI, RBNZ itching to hike, hope drives oil lower 27.05.2026 15мин

Thursday 28th May 2026NAB Markets Research Disclaimer Financial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABA softer-than-expected Australian headline inflation print sent the Aussie dollar sliding half a percent to 71.4 US cents. NAB’s Gavin Friend cautions that while the headline cooling is welcome, the trimmed mean core rate remains stubbornly high, meaning the RBA cannot yet afford to take its foot off the brake. Meanwhile the RBNZ held rates steady yesterday but strongly signalled that it is itching for another imminent interest rate hike. All eyes now look ahead to the Fed's preferred inflation metric, the core PCE deflator—which will influence the broader transatlantic interest rate path. And oil is lower, but will it last? The oil markets want to believe, says Gavin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All Fired Up 26.05.2026 14мин

Wednesday 27th May 2026NAB Markets Research Disclaimer Financial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABDespite ongoing optimism around a potential peace deal, the U.S. literally "fired up" tensions by launching missile strikes against targets in southern Iran and mine-laying vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. That sent Brent Crude prices highr, back over $100, whilst WTI fell. It was a session filled with divisions: U.S. Treasury yields fell 6 basis points and tech stocks rallied, while European yields climbed and its major indices retreated. NAB’s Taylor Nugent says its more to do with who’s been on holiday on Monday rather than any significant geographic divide. Today the focus will be on Australia’s CPI and a speech by the RBA’s Carolyn Hewson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Great Deal or No Deal 25.05.2026 13мин

Tuesday 26th May 2026NAB Markets Research Disclaimer Financial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABPhil is joined by NAB’s Ken Crompton to discuss how global markets are holding onto optimism despite Donald Trump shifting his rhetoric, stating he will only settle for a "great deal or no deal at all" regarding Iran. Despite thin holiday trading with the US and UK closed, equity markets rallied to new records—with Japan's Nikkei jumping 2.9% and the Dax rising 2%—while Brent crude plunged 7% to just over $96 a barrel. Ken explains that while sentiment remains supported by a proposed 60-day ceasefire extension and plans to gradually normalize shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, key hurdles remain; Iran is currently making any final agreement conditional on China taking custody of its nuclear material, all while its central bank governor negotiates in Doha to unfreeze frozen assets. This fragile progress left the Australian dollar as the session's biggest major currency mover, climbing 0.7% to 71.8 US cents as traders await the full return of global desks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Optimistic exuberance to come? 24.05.2026 15мин

Monday 25th May 2026NAB Markets Research Disclaimer Financial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABdiplomatic signals from the U.S. and Iran. While Donald Trump and Marco Rubio teased an imminent breakthrough that briefly sent Bitcoin surging 2%, the administration subsequently walked back the timeline, advising negotiators "not to rush". Ray notes that while both sides have reportedly softened their unrealistic demands—such as Iran dropping shipping toll requirements and the U.S. easing off proxy funding restrictions—the immediate reality points toward a mere 60-day ceasefire extension rather than a comprehensive resolution. Meanwhile, a single Iraqi crude supertanker successfully traversed the closed Strait of Hormuz, but with global inflation pressures mounting, new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh faces a tough call on rate paths, keeping the global economy in a state of tentative, risk-sensitive suspense. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Weekend Edition: Gearing Up for Gearing Down 22.05.2026 33мин

Friday 23rd May 2026Please note this communication is not a research report and has not been prepared by NAB Research analysts. Read the full disclaimer here.This week Phil sits down with NAB’s Gareth Spence and JBWere’s Glen Bertram to unpack the ramifications of the federal budget's aggressive pivot away from established property tax incentives. The panel deconstructs how ditching the 50% capital gains tax discount in favour of a cost-base indexation system, paired with a new 30% minimum tax rate, rewrites the wealth creation playbook for Australian property investors. What impact does limiting negative gearing to new builds have on the pricing and rental yields of established dwellings? Will the changes shift investment away from property – even more money going into super, for example? More importantly, will the impacts be as profound as many are making out? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cracks starting to show 21.05.2026 14мин

Friday 22nd May 2026NAB Markets Research Disclaimer Financial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABNAB’s Ken Crompton discusses the unexpected softening in the Australian labour market, where the unemployment rate climbed to 4.5% alongside a loss of 19,000 jobs. Ken points out that this surprising shift shows firms are pausing hiring plans due to global headwinds and the ongoing disruption in the Strait of Hormuz. While U.S. markets showed some resilience on the back of tech earnings, Europe faces deep contractionary pressures with manufacturing and services data turning weak. This sudden domestic downturn removes the immediate urgency for the RBA to lift interest rates again, pushing market expectations for the next potential hike out to August. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just passing through 20.05.2026 16мин

Thursday 21st May 2026NAB Markets Research Disclaimer Financial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABThere were strong moves in positive sentiment today as several vessels sailed through the Strait of Hormuz, accompanied by hopes of some sort of deal with Iran. Brent Crude dropped in price and bond yields fell, particularly in Europe. NAB’s Gavin Friend says yields had started to fall on the back of weaker than expected CPI data in the UK. The Fed’s minutes this morning showed more members leaning towards rate rises this year. Australian employment data is out today. The unemployment rate is likely to remain at 4.3%, but it was so close to 4.2% last time that’s a possibility too. And NVIDIA earnings beat expectations, but the forecast wasn’t as bullish as some had hoped. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oil has been rising, pass it on 19.05.2026 15мин

Wednesday 20th May 2026NAB Markets Research Disclaimer Financial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABThe worry from just about everywhere is that when there’s a supply shock, companies are quicker to pass on the costs to their customers than they would in ordinary times. The RBA said as much in a paper yesterday. NAB’s Ray Attrill says that’s why NAB now expects another rate rise next month. Others are saying the same thing about inflationary worries, including the BoJ’s Gov Ueda yesterday, but is it concerning enough for him to raise rates? Meanwhile, President Trump’s TACO moment over planned attacks on Iran means the world continues to watch oil reserves dwindle and prices steadily rise. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Divided we stall 18.05.2026 17мин

Tuesday 19th May 2026NAB Markets Research Disclaimer Financial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABA stark geographic division has opened up in global markets as US and European assets move in entirely opposite directions. Phil talks to NAB's Skye Masters about this pronounced division, noting that while inflation fears have sent US equities tumbling and pushed 10-year Treasury yields above 4.6% to a one-year high, European shares are rallying and bond yields are falling. This market fracture comes as geopolitical tensions reach a boiling point, with Brent crude pushing past $112 a barrel following reports that Donald Trump is convening his top national security team in the Situation Room to discuss military options against Iran. Meanwhile, a sense of political calm has returned to the UK after Labour leadership contender Andy Burnham ruled out altering Rachel Reeves' fiscal rules, a move that lowered gilt yields and sparked a 0.7% climb for the pound. This transatlantic divide completely overshadowed much softer-than-expected economic activity data out of China, leaving investors to brace for a highly volatile week ahead of the Fed minutes and Nvidia's upcoming earnings. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Xiing is Believing 17.05.2026 16мин

Monday 17th May 2026NAB Markets Research Disclaimer Financial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABJust when markets were hoping for a diplomatic breakthrough, it’s clear the Chinese leader sees it as America’s problem. Donald Trump’s blunt dismissal of the latest Iranian proposal has sent global markets into a dramatic tailspin. Phil talks to NAB’s Sally Auld about Friday's sharp risk-off move, which saw equities tumble and Brent crude surge toward $110 a barrel as the Polymarket odds of the Strait of Hormuz reopening this month collapsed to a measly 5%. While U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent tries to calm nerves by calling the bond sell-off a temporary inflation blip, 10-year Treasury yields have added 11 basis points, and the UK remains in its own self-induced political fix as Andy Burnham’s leadership gamble pushes gilt yields up by a striking 18 basis points. This escalating geopolitical storm completely overshadowed surprisingly resilient U.S. industrial production data, leaving G7 finance ministers meeting in Paris today with a messy combination of a soaring U.S. dollar, collapsing consumer certainty, and the looming reality of a hawkish central bank response. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Weekend Edition: Flying through an energy crisis 15.05.2026 23мин

Friday 15th May 2026Please note this communication is not a research report and has not been prepared by NAB Research analysts. Read the full disclaimer here.In this weekend edition of the NAB Morning Call, Phil talks to former Etihad CEO James Hogan, now Chairman at consulting firm Knighthood Global Limited. They explore the aviation industry’s resilient response to the Middle East conflict and the ongoing Strait of Hormuz blockade. James highlights how major carriers are successfully pivoting their business models by leaning into consolidation and prioritising high-yield long-haul routes to offset the rise in airline fuel. He outlines a clear path for the sector to capitalise on "sovereign resilience" and operational agility to maintain global connectivity. The discussion underscores a positive long-term outlook, where the industry’s ability to re-centre its networks around more stable hubs ensures that global travel remains viable and robust, even as it adapts to a new era of higher energy costs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

China warns of the Thucydides Trap 14.05.2026 16мин

Friday 15th May 2026NAB Markets Research Disclaimer Financial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABChina has tried to establish the upper hand at the Beijing Summit by warning of the Thucydides Trap – a phenomenon where a rising dominant power challenges the old guard, It invariably ends in war. It was a bold way to kick off a summit, where Iran seems to have had less focus than Taiwan. Meanwhile, US equities continue to ride high on AI adrenalin, helped by stronger than expected retail sales. UK GDP also came in better than expected, but the impact negated by politicians jockeying for the overthrowal of the Prime Minister. And NAB’s customer data showed a dip in spending in April. Today, the end of the summit and maybe we’ll hear more from the President once he’s back on home turf. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Battle chess with China 13.05.2026 15мин

Thursday 14th May 2026NAB Markets Research Disclaimer Financial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABIs Donald Trump readying himself for a deal that will see him forego arms sales to Taiwan in exchange for China helping end the confict with Iran? It’s one interpretation of what might come from the summit in Beijing, but NAB’s Ray Attrill is doubtful anything too comnstructive will emerge from the talks. Still, oil prices have fallen a little and equities in the US have risen to new highs, despite an EIA report warning of rapidly depleting oil reserves. Meanwhile Kevin Warsh has been approved by the Senate as the next Fed chair, but he’ll find it hard to cut rates, with the latest PPI numbers rising sharply and bond yields rising. Today US retail sales is the main data release, although Ray explains to Phil why it might be difficult to decipher anything useful from it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chalmers, Starmer and Calmer 12.05.2026 13мин

Wednesday 13th May 2026NAB Markets Research Disclaimer Financial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABWhether it is Chalmers' budget, Starmer’s fight for survival, or the eerie calm of a stalled Gulf ceasefire, the global economic landscape is shifting in ways that are anything but peaceful. Jim Chalmers' first major federal budget has delivered a blow to property perks by ending negative gearing for existing builds, even as an extra $18 billion in government spending threatens to complicate the RBA's fight against inflation. Phil talks to NAB's Gavin Friend about this domestic shake-up, including a spike in purchase costs in the latest NAB Business Survey and Australian consumer confidence plunging to COVID-era lows. Alongside all this a hot U.S. CPI print of 3.8% that has sent equities lower and yields higher. In the UK, Keir Starmer’s leadership crisis has pushed 10-year gilt yields higher still, while in the Middle East, the "nothing happening" news is actually the worst news of all: satellite imagery confirms Iranian exports from Kharg Island have completely stopped. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Iran’s ‘piece of garbage’ 11.05.2026 17мин

Tuesday 12th May 2026NAB Markets Research Disclaimer Financial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABIn this episode of the NAB Morning Call, Phil Dobbie and Rodrigo Catril break down the market's reaction to President Trump’s blunt dismissal of Iran’s latest proposal as a "piece of garbage," a move that has dashed hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough and kept the Strait of Hormuz under lock and key. As Brent crude pushes higher toward $115 a barrel, Rodrigo highlights a stark divergence in sentiment: while U.S. equities find resilience by "looking through" the disruption fueled by big tech earnings, bond markets are seeing yields rise as the geopolitical uncertainty takes hold. In the UK, yields have been hit even harder by a potential leadership challenge for the Prime Minister, while in China, consumer inflation kicked higher alongside a markedly sharp leap in producer prices. Domestically, the pair look ahead to a massive day for the local economy with NAB’s Business Survey, consumer confidence, and the federal budget taking centre stage, all while the global market braces for the latest U.S. CPI data. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Good jobs and new hope 10.05.2026 14мин

Monday 11th May 2026NAB Markets Research Disclaimer Financial Services Guide | Information on our services - NABCould we be on the verge of positive steps from the Gulf? Iran has responded to the US proposal and, as Phil points out, its not an outright rejection. This is also the week that President Trump meets President Xi, a discussion that could be critical to any solution in the Gulf. Meanwhile, US markets were buoyed by non-farm payrolls. NAB’s Skye Masters talks through the surprisingly strong results, even though the polar opposite was happening north of the border in Canada. It’s a busy week domestically with the NAB Business Survey tomorrow, and the wage price index and a the Federal Budget. Plenty to keep us all busy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.