The US election had earlier dominated attention. Donald Trump’s reluctance to
concede diverted attention from possible policy changes under the new Biden administration, but this will likely become an increasing focus
for investors in the months ahead.
Credit spreads narrowed sharply, both in Australia and overseas. This reflected optimism around the vaccines and a potential return to
‘normality’ in 2020, and supported returns from corporate bonds domestically and internationally.
The November CPI print showed that monthly trimmed mean inflation decelerated from 3.5% to 3.2%. While services and housing inflation continued the downward trend, electricity prices surprised to the upside after various subsidies came off.
Manufacturing PMI in November increased to roughly 50, hovering near the breakpoint between expansion and contraction.
