Season 4 Episode 31 – Fresh Tariff Announcements

Welcome to Season 4, Episode 31 of the #AtlasWeeklyRecap podcast: Fresh Tariff Announcements. In this week’s 8-minute update, Atlas Wealth Group Financial Planners Martin Jack and Shaun Fairon provide a concise recap of the major economic and market developments shaping the outlook for Australian expats.

Markets were mixed, with the US slipping 0.3%, the ASX edging up 0.2%, and China leading with a 1.1% gain. Commodities were in the spotlight as gold surged to a record high of $3,770/oz, oil climbed, while iron ore softened.

The Fed cut rates to 4.00–4.25% but signaled no urgency for further moves. Meanwhile, the US economy showed strength with GDP revised up to 3.8% and inflation steady at 2.9%. But risks loom large, with a potential U.S. government shutdown on October 1 that could cost an estimated $7 billion per week.

In Fresh Tariff Announcements, Martin and Shaun also examine Trump’s newly announced tariffs on drugs, trucks, furniture, and cabinets—raising concerns over higher prices, disrupted supply chains, and renewed inflationary pressures.

Closer to home, Australian headline inflation ticked up to 3% while core inflation steadied at 2.6%. Markets expect the RBA to hold rates for now, but odds of a November cut have risen to 70%.

Looking ahead, key data to watch includes US jobs, Eurozone inflation, China’s PMI, and Australian housing figures.