The United States and all its news, culture, entertainment, politics and business influences are never far from everyday life in Australia. From Black Friday sales and trick-or-treating on Halloween to nuclear-powered submarines and Netflix binges, American and Australian lives are deeply intertwined.

It’s been a blockbuster month for economic data in Australia. The key takeaway? Cautious optimism remains the most sensible stance. While it would be nice to drop the “cautious” and lean fully into optimism, risks still linger.

In asset management, there’s really only one product on the shelf: investment performance. And the old saying, “what’s on the label should match what’s in the tin,” couldn’t be more relevant. It speaks to the importance of transparency, honesty, and consistency—qualities every investor should expect from their manager.

Australia’s long-standing obsession with property is shifting. Productivity is now front and centre, and it’s not just an economic talking point, it’s a national challenge. In this article, our CEO Chris Andrews shares insights on why productivity is now central to Australia’s economic outlook.