US financial services giant, JP Morgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM), reported the latest financial results for Q4 2023 before the market open in the US on Friday. JP Morgan reported revenue of $38.574 billion for the quarter, falling short of Wall Street estimate of $39.73 billion. Revenue was up by 11.65% year-over-year.
Earnings per share (EPS) reached $3.04 per share for Q4 (down by 14.84% vs. Q4 2022), also below analyst estimate of $3.349 per share. Company overview Founded: 2000 Headquarters: New York City, United States Number of employees: 308,669 (2023) Industry: Financial services Key people: Jamie Dimon (Chairman & CEO), Daniel E.
Pinto (President & COO) CEO commentary "We ended the year with a solid quarter, producing net income of $9.3 billion, or $12.1 billion excluding the FDIC special assessment and discretionary securities losses. Our record results in 2023 reflect over-earning on both NII and credit, but we remain confident in our ability to continue to deliver very healthy returns even after they normalize. Our balance sheet remained extremely strong, with a CET1 ratio of 15.0%, a staggering $514 billion of total loss-absorbing capacity and $1.4 trillion in cash and marketable securities.
We continue to believe that the recent series of regulatory and legislative proposals, including Basel III endgame, could cause serious harm to consumers, businesses, and markets. We hope that regulators will make the necessary adjustments so the rules promote a strong financial system without causing undue consequences for end users," CEO of JP Morgan, Jamie Dimon commented on the latest results. Dimon also made comments on the state of the US economy and global challenges: "The U.S. economy continues to be resilient, with consumers still spending, and markets currently expect a soft landing.
It is important to note that the economy is being fueled by large amounts of government deficit spending and past stimulus. There is also an ongoing need for increased spending due to the green economy, the restructuring of global supply chains, higher military spending and rising healthcare costs. This may lead inflation to be stickier and rates to be higher than markets expect.
On top of this, there are a number of downside risks to watch. Quantitative tightening is draining over $900 billion of liquidity from the system annually, and we have never seen a full cycle of tightening. And the ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East have the potential to disrupt energy and food markets, migration, and military and economic relationships, in addition to their dreadful human cost.
These significant and somewhat unprecedented forces cause us to remain cautious. While we hope for the best, the past year demonstrated why we must be prepared for any environment." Stock reaction The stock ended Friday down by 0.73% at $169.05 a share. Stock performance 5 day: -1.87% 1 month: +2.31% 3 months: +14.22% Year-to-date: -0.62% 1 year: +18.21% JP Morgan Chase & Co. stock price targets Deutsche Bank: $190 Bank of America: $188 Barclays: $212 Oppenheimer: $243 Morgan Stanley: $191 Piper Sandler: $170 BMO Capital Markets: $171 Jefferies Financial Group: $169 Evercore ISI: $167 Royal Bank of Canada: $158 HSBC: $159 Credit Suisse: $170 JP Morgan Chase & Co. is the 13th largest company in the world with a market cap of $488.72 billion.
You can trade JP Morgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) and many other stocks from the NYSE, NASDAQ, HKEX and ASX with GO Markets as a Share CFD on the MetaTrader 5 platform. To find out more, go to "Trading" then select "Share CFDs". GO Markets offers pre-market and after-market trading on popular US Share CFDs.
Why trade during extended hours? Volatility never sleeps. Trade over earnings releases as they happen outside of main trading hours Reduce your risk and hedge your existing positions ahead of a new trading day Extended trading hours on popular US stocks means extended opportunities Sources: JP Morgan Chase & Co., TradingView, MarketWatch, MarketBeat, CompaniesMarketCap
By
Klavs Valters
Account Manager, GO Markets London.
The information provided is of general nature only and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situations or needs. Before acting on any information provided, you should consider whether the information is suitable for you and your personal circumstances and if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice. All opinions, conclusions, forecasts or recommendations are reasonably held at the time of compilation but are subject to change without notice. Past performance is not an indication of future performance. Go Markets Pty Ltd, ABN 85 081 864 039, AFSL 254963 is a CFD issuer, and trading carries significant risks and is not suitable for everyone. You do not own or have any interest in the rights to the underlying assets. You should consider the appropriateness by reviewing our TMD, FSG, PDS and other CFD legal documents to ensure you understand the risks before you invest in CFDs.
Tuesday, 12 May 2026, at roughly 7:30 pm AEST, Treasurer Jim Chalmers will stand up in Canberra and deliver the 2026-27 Federal Budget. According to Budget.gov.au, that is when the Budget is officially released, with the Budget papers going live online at the same time.
But this is not just another Budget night.
The Treasurer is putting together a fiscal plan while rates are moving higher, not lower. That is what makes this one feel different. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) lifted the cash rate to 4.35 per cent on 5 May, its third straight hike this year, in an 8 to 1 vote.
That is the part Australian market participants may not want to overlook.
Market Event
Countdown to the 2026–27 Budget
Treasurer delivers speech Tuesday, 12 May 2026 at 7:30 pm AEST
Initializing...
AEST (+10)
7:30 PM
VIC, NSW, QLD, TAS, ACT
ACST (+9.5)
7:00 PM
SA, NT
AWST (+8)
5:30 PM
WA
LHST (+10.5)
8:00 PM
Lord Howe Island
Budget basics in plain English
The Federal Budget is basically the government’s plan for the year ahead. It sets out how much it expects to spend, tax and borrow, along with its forecasts for growth and inflation.
Markets usually care less about the big speech and more about the details buried in the papers. Think deficits, debt issuance, inflation assumptions, household relief, infrastructure spending and sector-specific surprises.
The Treasurer has already flagged a productivity package and a savings package. The Prime Minister has also shifted the broader message towards ‘national resilience’.
Those phrases may sound political, but they can matter for markets once the numbers are released.
The 2026–27 Budget catalyst watchlist
Sector
Budget Catalyst
Key Tickers / CFDs
What to Monitor
Retail
Cost-of-living rebates, A$300 tax offset
Woolworths (WOW), Wesfarmers (WES)
Spending resilience
Energy
A$10bn Fuel Security package
Santos (STO), Woodside (WDS)
Infrastructure spend
Housing
CGT/negative gearing tweaks
REA Group (REA), CBA, NAB
Loan demand, REIT pricing
Materials
Infrastructure build-out
BHP, Rio Tinto (RIO)
Iron ore assumptions
FX & Rates
Fiscal stance & debt issuance
AUD/USD, AGB 10-year futures
RBA rate pricing
Budget night scenarios
None of these are predictions, rather they are frameworks for thinking about how markets may initially react once the Budget papers are released.
Cost-of-living support
Rebates and targeted relief may give consumer-facing stocks some support. The other side is inflation risk. If markets see the package as too generous, bond yields could move higher.
Infrastructure and resilience
Construction and materials stocks could be sensitive to any new infrastructure commitments. If a fuel-security buildout is confirmed, related sectors may also get some attention.
Tax settings
Possible CGT discount changes or a return to indexation should be checked against the final papers. Markets may also watch for any flow-through to property-exposed stocks and REITs.
Fiscal restraint
A tighter Budget may be read as less inflationary, which could support bonds. Sectors that rely on government spending could face headwinds.
AUD reaction
The Aussie may move around RBA rate pricing after the Budget. That said, global drivers and commodity prices, especially oil and iron ore, can often outweigh local Budget flows.
A short pre-budget checklist
1
Confirm the release time and relevant Budget papers.
2
Note what may already be priced in, including CGT changes and fuel security.
3
Monitor AUD/USD reference levels, including 0.7180 and 0.7250.
4
Watch the 10-year government bond yield as macro confirmation.
5
Review position sizing and stops in the context of event risk.
6
Separate the political headline from the actual market implications.
Where it can go wrong
The Budget rarely writes the whole script. In fact, some measures may already be priced in. Offshore moves can dominate, details may be revised in coming weeks, and the RBA’s June meeting may matter more than any single line item.
Sector winners can still fall if valuations are stretched and the next inflation print may also overwrite the night’s narrative.
Takeaway
For newer Australian market participants, the key point is this: the Budget is a catalyst, not a crystal ball and the job is not to guess every measure. It is to watch how the Budget shifts expectations for rates, inflation, government borrowing, household income and company earnings.
That is the chain that moves prices, often well after the speech is over.
Join us on Wednesday morning for GO's reeaction and what it means for the Aussie dollar, the ASX and your trading.
Market Intelligence
Track the next catalyst
From CPI prints to RBA meetings, stay ahead of the volatility. Map the calendar and track AUD/USD or the ASX 200.
As ações de defesa da ASX estão de volta em mais listas de observação e, de acordo com o Instituto Internacional de Pesquisa da Paz de Estocolmo (SIPRI), os gastos militares globais atingiram aproximadamente USD 2,718 trilhões em 2024, um aumento de 9,4% em termos reais.
As configurações atuais de defesa da Austrália estão definidas na Estratégia Nacional de Defesa de 2024 e nos documentos de planejamento de investimento relacionados, que descrevem as prioridades de financiamento de capacidades de longo prazo. Além disso, Canberra apontou um investimento de capacidade de 330 bilhões de dólares australianos até 2034, incluindo financiamento adicional para combatentes de superfície, preparação, ataques de longo alcance e sistemas autônomos.
Aqui está a parte que a maioria das pessoas perde: nem todas as ações de defesa da ASX são negociadas da mesma forma. Alguns ficam perto da construção naval. Alguns são nomes de contra-drones e alguns são operadores menores e de alto risco, onde um contrato pode importar muito mais do que o mercado supõe.
Esses cinco nomes não são uma lista de compras, mas sim uma lista prática para investidores que tentam entender onde o impulso de compras pode realmente aparecer no ASX.
1) Austal (ASX: ASB)
A Austal é uma das empresas listadas na ASX mais diretamente expostas ao gasoduto de construção naval da Austrália, embora a execução do contrato, as margens e o prazo de entrega continuem sendo variáveis importantes.
Eles não estão apenas ganhando contratos aleatórios; eles assinaram um grande acordo legal (o Acordo Estratégico de Construção Naval) que os torna parceiros oficiais para construir a próxima geração de navios militares de médio porte da Austrália na Austrália Ocidental.
Em fevereiro de 2026, o governo deu luz verde à Austal para um projeto de 4 bilhões de dólares. Isso não é para apenas um navio, é para 8 navios “Landing Craft Heavy”. São enormes navios de transporte (cerca de 100 metros de comprimento) projetados para transportar tanques pesados e equipamentos diretamente para a praia. Mas aqui está a parte que a maioria das pessoas perde: a construção naval é uma maratona, não um sprint.
Como você pode ver no cronograma de entrega, embora a construção comece em 2026, o navio final não será entregue até 2038. Para um investidor, isso significa que a Austal tem um fluxo de renda “garantido” para os próximos 12 anos, mas ele precisa ser muito bom em gerenciar seus custos durante esse longo período para realmente obter lucro.
2) DroneShield (ASX: DRO)
Se você já viu imagens de pequenos drones interrompendo campos de batalha modernos, o DroneShield está construindo parte do “botão de desligamento”. Seu foco é a tecnologia de combate a drones, incluindo sistemas que detectam, interrompem ou derrotam drones usando guerra eletrônica, sensores e ferramentas baseadas em software, em vez de depender apenas de munições tradicionais.
No início de 2026, a DroneShield deixou de ser uma startup promissora e entrou em uma fase comercial muito maior. Ela registrou uma receita do ano fiscal de 2025 de A $216,5 milhões, um aumento de 276% em relação ao ano fiscal de 2024, e disse que iniciou o ano fiscal de 2026 com A $103,5 milhões em receita comprometida.
Um ponto que o mercado pode ignorar é a camada de software no modelo. A DroneShield registrou receita de A $11,6 milhões em software como serviço (SaaS) no ano fiscal de 2025 e disse que está trabalhando para que o SaaS represente 30% da receita em cinco anos. Seu modelo de assinatura inclui atualizações de software para sistemas implantados, o que adiciona um fluxo crescente de receita recorrente junto com as vendas de hardware.
Entre as ações de defesa da ASX, a DroneShield é uma das formas mais diretas de seguir o tema Counter-UAS. É também um dos nomes em que o sentimento pode oscilar rapidamente, porque as histórias de crescimento podem aumentar e diminuir quando o tempo do pedido muda.
A EOS constrói tanto o “cérebro” quanto o “músculo” para plataformas militares. É mais conhecido por sistemas de armas remotas, que permitem aos operadores controlar torres armadas de dentro de veículos protegidos, e por sistemas de laser de alta energia voltados para a defesa contra drones. A EOS disse que seu acúmulo incondicional atingiu cerca de A $459,1 milhões no início de 2026, após uma série de vitórias de contratos até 2025. Isso aponta para uma base muito maior de trabalho seguro, embora o tempo de entrega e a conversão de receita ainda sejam importantes.
A EOS assinou um contrato de €71,4 milhões, cerca de A $125 milhões, com um cliente europeu para um sistema de armas a laser de alta energia de 100 quilowatts. A EOS afirma que o sistema foi projetado para um baixo custo por tiro e pode acionar até 20 drones por minuto. O governo australiano reservou A $1,3 bilhão em 10 anos para a aquisição de capacidade de combate a drones, e a EOS divulgou que fez parte de uma equipe bem-sucedida de licitação do LAND 156. Isso não garante receita futura, mas dá suporte à visibilidade de médio prazo em um mercado que a empresa já tem como alvo.
A EOS parece uma história de recuperação, mas que ainda depende da execução. A empresa se reorientou em torno de sistemas de armas remotas, sistemas de combate a drones e lasers, todas áreas vinculadas a maiores gastos com defesa. A questão principal é se ela pode continuar convertendo o acúmulo e o pipeline em receita gerada e, ao mesmo tempo, manter a disciplina do balanço patrimonial.
4) Codan (ASX: CDA)
Às vezes, a Codan fica de fora das listas casuais de ações de defesa porque é mais diversificada. Isso pode ser um descuido. Em seus resultados do primeiro semestre do ano fiscal de 26, a Codan disse que sua empresa de comunicações projeta comunicações de missão crítica para os mercados globais de segurança pública e militar. A receita de comunicações aumentou 19% para A $221,8 milhões. A empresa também disse que a DTC gerou um forte crescimento da demanda de defesa e sistemas não tripulados, com a receita de sistemas não tripulados aumentando 68%, para A $73 milhões. Codan disse que cerca de metade dessa receita não tripulada estava vinculada a aplicações de defesa operacional em zonas de conflito.
É aqui que a história se torna mais matizada. Em uma cesta de ações de defesa da ASX, a Codan pode oferecer um perfil diferente, com menos sensibilidade pura às manchetes, maior diversificação operacional e exposição significativa a comunicações militares e sistemas não tripulados, sem ser um nome de tema único. Essa diversificação também pode significar que as ações nem sempre são negociadas como um nome de defesa puro.
A HighCom está no final especulativo desta lista e deve ser rotulada dessa forma. A empresa afirma que seus dois negócios contínuos são a HighCom Armor, que fornece proteção balística, e a HighCom Technology, que fornece e mantém sistemas aéreos não tripulados de pequeno e médio porte, sistemas aéreos contra-não tripulados e suporte relacionado de engenharia, integração, manutenção e logística para o ADF e outras forças armadas regionais alinhadas.
No primeiro semestre do ano fiscal de 26, a receita de operações contínuas caiu 59% para A $10,9 milhões, enquanto o EBITDA passou para uma perda de A $5,4 milhões em relação ao lucro de A $1,9 milhão no ano anterior. A HighCom também divulgou A $5,1 milhões em receita de tecnologia HighCom, incluindo A $3,5 milhões de peças de reposição para pequenos sistemas aéreos não tripulados (SUAS) e A $1,6 milhão de serviços de sustentação fornecidos ao Departamento de Defesa da Austrália.
Então, sim, a HighCom é uma das ações de defesa ASX mais sensíveis financeiramente no conselho. Mas também é o tipo de nome menor que pode mostrar como as compras se transformam em equipamentos de suporte, sustentação e proteção especializados.
Principais observações do mercado
Acompanhe os marcos do programa, não apenas as manchetes políticas. A adjudicação de contratos, o início da fabricação, os cronogramas de entrega e o trabalho de manutenção geralmente importam mais do que um único dia de anúncio.
Separe a exposição pura da exposição diversificada. O DroneShield e o EOS estão mais próximos de temas concentrados de tecnologia de defesa, enquanto o Codan traz exposição às comunicações em um mix de negócios mais amplo.
Assista aos temas de capacidade soberana na Austrália. A Austal e a EOS estão vinculadas à fabricação local, à integração e às cadeias de suprimentos australianas, o que apóia o tema mais amplo de capacidade soberana desse grupo.
Preste atenção aos balanços e à conversão de caixa. O ímpeto de compras pode ser real mesmo quando o tempo fica confuso. A última metade da HighCom é um lembrete disso.
As manchetes de defesa podem parecer imediatas. Os ganhos geralmente não são. O principal trabalho naval da Austal se estende até a próxima década. Os contratos EOS são entregues ao longo de vários anos. O fluxo de pedidos da DroneShield parece forte, mas a empresa ainda separa a receita comprometida de uma oportunidade mais ampla de pipeline. HighCom mostra o outro lado da moeda. A exposição à aquisição não se traduz automaticamente em uma execução financeira tranquila.
As referências a ações de defesa listadas na ASX são apenas informações gerais, não uma recomendação para comprar, vender ou manter qualquer título ou CFD. Essas ações podem ser altamente voláteis e sensíveis ao prazo do contrato, à política governamental, à geopolítica, ao risco de execução e às condições do mercado. Expectativas de backlog, pipeline e receita não são garantias de desempenho futuro.
Em 28 de fevereiro de 2026, quando o ataque conjunto dos EUA e Israel começou, os números nas telas começaram a se mover de uma forma que parecia clínica, mesmo quando a realidade no terreno, com as trágicas mortes de vítimas civis no Irã, parecia tudo menos isso. Os mercados, como dizem, não têm uma bússola moral, mas sim uma máquina de pesagem e, neste momento, estão avaliando a transição de toda a economia global de um modelo “just-in-time” para um ciclo “just-in-case”.
O que os mercados estavam sinalizando
Em 2 de março, a fita de índice permaneceu cautelosa enquanto a defesa aumentava. Historicamente, os conflitos podem acelerar o reabastecimento e os pedidos, mas o tamanho (e a rapidez) ainda depende de orçamentos, aprovações e gargalos de entrega.
Os vencedores
1. Hanwha Aerospace (012450.KS)
Hanwha é um dos nomes mais negociados vinculados ao tema “K-Defense”, uma empresa cada vez mais vista pelo mercado como fornecedora escalável de um ciclo global cada vez mais apertado de artilharia e munições. Capacidade e credibilidade de entrega.
Quando o reabastecimento se torna urgente, a capacidade de produzir em grande escala geralmente é tão importante quanto a própria plataforma. A demanda de exportação vinculada a sistemas como o K9 Thunder e o Chunmoo reforçou a narrativa de um fluxo de pedidos durável, mesmo quando os resultados ainda dependem de orçamentos, aprovações e prazos de entrega.
Principais coisas que podem mover o sentimento: atualizações do livro de pedidos, ritmo de produção e quaisquer anúncios de exportação subsequentes.
2. Northrop Grumman (NOC)
A Northrop se concentrou à medida que os investidores reavaliaram a exposição à modernização estratégica e a grandes programas de longa duração. Os mercados de defesa, muitas vezes vistos como essenciais, podem persistir em todos os ciclos. É menos sobre um quarto e mais sobre se o ímpeto permanece estável se as prioridades de modernização permanecerem em vigor (e se os cronogramas mudam se não mudarem).
Variáveis-chave que podem mover o sentimento: Ritmo de aquisição, prazo do contrato e linguagem de financiamento relacionada ao programa.
3. Corporação RTX (RTX)
O RTX voltou ao centro da fita quando os investidores avaliaram um ciclo de reabastecimento de interceptores e a economia da defesa aérea de alto ritmo. O desgaste é caro e, quando as taxas de uso aumentam, os governos normalmente precisam reabastecer os estoques e, em muitos casos, financiar a expansão da produção, o que pode aumentar o atraso e aumentar a visibilidade da receita.
Variáveis-chave que podem mover o sentimento: Pedidos de reabastecimento, indicadores de expansão da fabricação e produtividade de entrega.
4. Lockheed Martin (LMT)
A Lockheed chamou a atenção quando os mercados se concentraram na demanda por defesa antimísseis e na questão que cada mesa de compras enfrenta em um ambiente de alto ritmo: com que rapidez os estoques podem ser reconstruídos? Se a utilização permanecer elevada, os vencedores tendem a ser os empreiteiros mais bem posicionados para escalar a produção e entregar de forma confiável. A exposição à defesa antimísseis da Lockheed a mantém intimamente ligada a essa narrativa de reabastecimento.
Variáveis-chave que podem mover o sentimento: sinais de rampa de produção, economia unitária e cadência de pedidos orientada pelo orçamento.
5. Sistemas BAE (BA.L)
Com um acúmulo de 83,6 bilhões de libras e um papel central no programa submarino AUKUS, a BAE entrou em foco quando partes da Europa sinalizaram maiores ambições de gastos com defesa. As ações subiram 6,11% para uma alta de 52 semanas em meio a uma rotação “sem risco”, com os comerciantes observando os marcos do AUKUS e as aquisições europeias de defesa aérea e antimísseis, incluindo o “Sky Shield”.
Variáveis-chave que podem mover o sentimento: Um potencial catalisador é qualquer aumento claro nos gastos alemães que eleve o fluxo de pedidos nas unidades europeias da BAE, enquanto os principais riscos incluem um forte aumento nos rendimentos do ouro do Reino Unido, uma nova volatilidade da libra esterlina ou uma “ameaça de paz” na obtenção de lucros.
800
Os perdedores: nem todo 'estoque de guerra' sobe
6. Ambiente aeroportuário (AVAV)
A AeroVironment subiu 18% na abertura antes de cair 17% no período intradiário após relatos de que a Força Espacial dos EUA estava reabrindo um contrato de USD 1,4 bilhão. A medida destaca como os processos de aquisição e o risco do contrato podem impulsionar a volatilidade, mesmo em ambientes temáticos favoráveis.
7. Defesa de Kratos (KTOS)
Kratos aborda o tema de drones e munições vadiadoras, que ganhou atenção à medida que o conflito no Oriente Médio se intensificava. As ações ainda foram vendidas após os lucros, destacando um risco comum do setor de defesa. A Kratos anunciou uma grande oferta complementar de ações na faixa de USD 1,2 bilhão a USD 1,4 bilhão. A medida fortalece o balanço patrimonial e pode apoiar futuros investimentos em programas.
Para negociadores focados em narrativas de “prêmio de conflito” de curto prazo, a diluição pode alterar rapidamente a configuração. Mesmo quando as condições de demanda parecem favoráveis, o mercado pode reavaliar as ações se cada acionista finalmente possuir uma parte menor do negócio.
8. Máquinas intuitivas (LUNR)
Alguns nomes especulativos de tecnologia espacial ficaram para trás, pois os investidores pareciam favorecer empresas com receitas mais estabelecidas vinculadas à defesa.
9. Boeing (BA)
A Boeing caiu cerca de 2,5% na sessão. Embora sua divisão de defesa seja significativa, seus negócios comerciais podem ser mais sensíveis à demanda da aviação, às interrupções no espaço aéreo e às mudanças no preço do petróleo.
10. Spirit AeroSystems (SPR)
A Spirit AeroSystems permanece intimamente ligada ao ciclo global de produção de aeronaves como uma importante fornecedora de aeroestruturas.Resultados recentes mostraram perdas crescentes, apesar do aumento das vendas, refletindo os aumentos contínuos dos custos de produção nos principais programas de aeronaves. Essas pressões pesaram sobre a confiança dos investidores nas perspectivas de curto prazo. A aquisição planejada pela Boeing pode, em última análise, remodelar a posição da empresa na cadeia de suprimentos, mas o risco de execução e a estabilidade da produção permanecem fundamentais na forma como o mercado precifica as ações.
O que assistir a seguir
Escalação versus redução da escalada: Uma mudança em direção à diplomacia ou às discussões sobre o cessar-fogo pode mudar rapidamente o sentimento em relação às ações de defesa.
Petróleo e transporte marítimo: Os picos de energia podem restringir as condições financeiras e pressionar setores cíclicos.
Orçamentos e prêmios: Às vezes, os movimentos de preços podem preceder as decisões do contrato, com clareza chegando quando os prêmios são finalizados.
Capacidade de produção: Empresas com histórico comprovado de produção e entrega geralmente atraem a maior atenção dos investidores.
Restrições da cadeia de suprimentos: Terras raras, propulsão e eletrônicos continuam sendo possíveis gargalos que podem limitar a rapidez com que a produção cresce.
A lente de longo prazo
O conflito de 2026 no Irã é, antes de tudo, uma tragédia humana. Para os mercados, isso também pode representar uma mudança na forma como os gastos com segurança nacional são priorizados dentro das estruturas fiscais. Se os gastos com defesa permanecerem elevados em um horizonte de vários anos, empresas com capacidade de fabricação escalável e tecnologias integradas poderão atrair a atenção contínua dos investidores. Dito isso, os mercados se movem em ciclos. Os temas estruturais podem persistir, mas também podem ser reavaliados rapidamente quando as suposições mudam. Manter-se analítico e consciente dos riscos continua sendo fundamental.
As referências a empresas, setores ou movimentos de mercado específicos são fornecidas apenas para comentários gerais do mercado e não constituem uma recomendação, oferta ou solicitação para comprar ou vender qualquer produto financeiro. As reações do mercado a eventos geopolíticos ou macroeconômicos podem ser voláteis e imprevisíveis, e os resultados podem diferir materialmente das expectativas.
Tuesday, 12 May 2026, at roughly 7:30 pm AEST, Treasurer Jim Chalmers will stand up in Canberra and deliver the 2026-27 Federal Budget. According to Budget.gov.au, that is when the Budget is officially released, with the Budget papers going live online at the same time.
But this is not just another Budget night.
The Treasurer is putting together a fiscal plan while rates are moving higher, not lower. That is what makes this one feel different. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) lifted the cash rate to 4.35 per cent on 5 May, its third straight hike this year, in an 8 to 1 vote.
That is the part Australian market participants may not want to overlook.
Market Event
Countdown to the 2026–27 Budget
Treasurer delivers speech Tuesday, 12 May 2026 at 7:30 pm AEST
Initializing...
AEST (+10)
7:30 PM
VIC, NSW, QLD, TAS, ACT
ACST (+9.5)
7:00 PM
SA, NT
AWST (+8)
5:30 PM
WA
LHST (+10.5)
8:00 PM
Lord Howe Island
Budget basics in plain English
The Federal Budget is basically the government’s plan for the year ahead. It sets out how much it expects to spend, tax and borrow, along with its forecasts for growth and inflation.
Markets usually care less about the big speech and more about the details buried in the papers. Think deficits, debt issuance, inflation assumptions, household relief, infrastructure spending and sector-specific surprises.
The Treasurer has already flagged a productivity package and a savings package. The Prime Minister has also shifted the broader message towards ‘national resilience’.
Those phrases may sound political, but they can matter for markets once the numbers are released.
The 2026–27 Budget catalyst watchlist
Sector
Budget Catalyst
Key Tickers / CFDs
What to Monitor
Retail
Cost-of-living rebates, A$300 tax offset
Woolworths (WOW), Wesfarmers (WES)
Spending resilience
Energy
A$10bn Fuel Security package
Santos (STO), Woodside (WDS)
Infrastructure spend
Housing
CGT/negative gearing tweaks
REA Group (REA), CBA, NAB
Loan demand, REIT pricing
Materials
Infrastructure build-out
BHP, Rio Tinto (RIO)
Iron ore assumptions
FX & Rates
Fiscal stance & debt issuance
AUD/USD, AGB 10-year futures
RBA rate pricing
Budget night scenarios
None of these are predictions, rather they are frameworks for thinking about how markets may initially react once the Budget papers are released.
Cost-of-living support
Rebates and targeted relief may give consumer-facing stocks some support. The other side is inflation risk. If markets see the package as too generous, bond yields could move higher.
Infrastructure and resilience
Construction and materials stocks could be sensitive to any new infrastructure commitments. If a fuel-security buildout is confirmed, related sectors may also get some attention.
Tax settings
Possible CGT discount changes or a return to indexation should be checked against the final papers. Markets may also watch for any flow-through to property-exposed stocks and REITs.
Fiscal restraint
A tighter Budget may be read as less inflationary, which could support bonds. Sectors that rely on government spending could face headwinds.
AUD reaction
The Aussie may move around RBA rate pricing after the Budget. That said, global drivers and commodity prices, especially oil and iron ore, can often outweigh local Budget flows.
A short pre-budget checklist
1
Confirm the release time and relevant Budget papers.
2
Note what may already be priced in, including CGT changes and fuel security.
3
Monitor AUD/USD reference levels, including 0.7180 and 0.7250.
4
Watch the 10-year government bond yield as macro confirmation.
5
Review position sizing and stops in the context of event risk.
6
Separate the political headline from the actual market implications.
Where it can go wrong
The Budget rarely writes the whole script. In fact, some measures may already be priced in. Offshore moves can dominate, details may be revised in coming weeks, and the RBA’s June meeting may matter more than any single line item.
Sector winners can still fall if valuations are stretched and the next inflation print may also overwrite the night’s narrative.
Takeaway
For newer Australian market participants, the key point is this: the Budget is a catalyst, not a crystal ball and the job is not to guess every measure. It is to watch how the Budget shifts expectations for rates, inflation, government borrowing, household income and company earnings.
That is the chain that moves prices, often well after the speech is over.
Join us on Wednesday morning for GO's reeaction and what it means for the Aussie dollar, the ASX and your trading.
Market Intelligence
Track the next catalyst
From CPI prints to RBA meetings, stay ahead of the volatility. Map the calendar and track AUD/USD or the ASX 200.
If you have ever wondered why a forex pair moves sharply on a single Tuesday afternoon, the answer often sits inside one number: the cash rate.
On 5 May 2026, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) raised its cash rate target by 25 basis points (bps) to 4.35%. The decision unwound much of the easing cycle traders had spent the previous year debating. Markets repriced quickly, and the Australian dollar moved against major peers as traders digested the decision.
When one rate decision changes the market mood
For new traders, decisions like this can feel chaotic.
The chart moves before the headline finishes loading. Spreads widen. Stop levels can be tested in seconds. The financial media then fills with confident takes that often disagree with one another.
This playbook is designed to help you make sense of that chaos. Not by predicting the next move, but by understanding how the cash rate works, how it can ripple through markets, and how to prepare a process before the next decision lands.
Important
This article is general market commentary and education only. It does not constitute personal financial advice. Trading CFDs carries significant risk and may not be suitable for everyone.
Part 01
The 101 explainer
Build a clear, foundational understanding before going anywhere near a setup.
The Basics
What the cash rate is, in plain English
The cash rate is the interest rate that commercial banks charge each other for overnight, unsecured loans. The cash rate target is the level a central bank officially sets to steer that market.
In Australia, the RBA sets the cash rate target to manage inflation and employment. While the names vary, each acts as an anchor for the following equivalents:
United States: Federal Funds Rate
United Kingdom: Bank Rate
Eurozone: Main Refinancing Rate
New Zealand: Official Cash Rate
A simple way to think about it is as the wholesale price of money. When that wholesale price rises, the retail prices linked to it, such as mortgage rates, business loans, savings rates and bond yields, often move higher too. When it falls, borrowing costs across the economy tend to ease.
For traders, this is the macro anchor. It is not just a number on an economic calendar; it influences currencies, indices, commodities, and yield-sensitive stocks.
Where the world's major policy rates sit in May 2026
Headline cash rate equivalents at major central banks, expressed in per cent.
Illustrative
Source. Reserve Bank of Australia, US Federal Reserve, Bank of England, European Central Bank, Bank of Japan and Reserve Bank of New Zealand official statements, figures as at May 2026. Educational illustration.
Why It Matters
Why the cash rate matters more than new traders expect
Central bank decisions are among the most closely watched events on the market calendar. That is because one rate decision can influence several markets at once, from currencies and bond yields to share indices, commodities and the cost of holding leveraged positions overnight.
It affects more than currencies
For CFD traders, this matters for two main reasons. First, leverage can magnify both gains and losses when markets are volatile. Around a central bank decision, price can move quickly, spreads can widen and risk controls become especially important.
It can change holding costs
Second, the swap or holding cost on a CFD position is linked to the underlying cash rate. When rates change, the cost of carrying a position overnight may also change. For example, a pair like AUD/JPY can behave differently when the yield gap between Australia and Japan is wide compared with when it is narrow.
Markets can reprice quickly
New traders often underestimate how fast markets can react. A central bank can shift expectations with one sentence in a statement or press conference.
Markets do not wait for the next quarterly review. They often adjust as soon as the message changes.
Vocabulary
The key terms to know
You do not need to memorise every term in this list. These are the ones that come up most often around cash rate decisions.
Cash rate target
The interest rate level set by a central bank to anchor the economy.
Basis points (bps)
1bp = 0.01%. A 25bps move is a 0.25% change in rates.
Repricing
Markets adjusting expectations instantly after new info.
Hawkish vs Dovish: Hawkish leans toward higher rates (supports currency); Dovish leans toward lower rates (weighs on currency).
Yield Differential: The rate gap between two economies that drives capital flows.
Carry trade
Investing in high-yield via low-yield borrowing.
Risk-on/off
Market mood favouring growth vs safe-havens.
Trimmed Mean
Inflation measure that filters out volatile price swings.
Swap or Rollover:
The overnight interest charge/credit for leveraged positions.
Watch for triple swaps on Wednesdays which account for weekend settlement.
Position Sizing
What a 25 bps move may cost you
Basis points can sound abstract until you connect them to position size. Here is a simplified way to show why a small percentage move can matter for a CFD trader. A standard one-lot position in major FX is 100,000 units of the base currency and a 25 bps shift in the underlying cash rate is 0.25% per year.
The point is not the exact cents. It is that small-sounding percentage changes can compound on leveraged positions held for weeks or months.
Position size
Annual exposure to a 25 bps shift
Approximate daily impact
Standard lot, 100,000 units
About 250 units
About 0.68 units
Mini lot, 10,000 units
About 25 units
About 0.07 units
Micro lot, 1,000 units
About 2.50 units
About 0.01 units
Note. Figures are illustrative and shown in the quote currency of the pair. Educational illustration only.
How it works in real market conditions
A central bank decision is rarely just about the rate change itself. The market reaction is shaped by three layers: the decision, the statement, and any press conference or projections.
On 5 May 2026, the RBA raised the cash rate to 4.35%. While the hike was the headline, the statement and subsequent press conference provided the context that allowed markets to reprice bond yields and currency pairs in real time.
AUD/USD often spikes, fades, then trends after a rate decision
Stylised intraday reaction in the first 90 minutes around a hawkish RBA surprise.
Illustrative
Source. Stylised illustration based on typical post-decision price behaviour. Educational purposes only. Liquidity can shift quickly: In the first 5 to 15 minutes after a decision, spreads can widen and fills can slip. High-frequency systems can digest language faster than humans, and mean reversion is common before a clearer trend emerges.
Market Dynamics
How central banks ripple across assets
Cash rate decisions rarely affect one market in isolation. They trigger a domino effect through currencies, yields, and volatility at varying speeds.
This kind of sector dispersion is not just an equities story. The same monetary tightening can produce sharply different outcomes across consumer segments, business sizes and parts of the wider economy, a dynamic sometimes called a K-shaped economy.
Major FX pairs
AUD/USD, EUR/USD, and JPY crosses respond directly to yield differentials.
Short-end yields
The 2-year government bond often acts as a leading indicator for currency moves.
Stock indices
High rates discount future earnings, weighing heavily on growth and tech names.
Gold & safe havens
Bullion reacts to real yields and the USD; hawkish shifts usually pressure gold prices.
Energy markets
Prices feed into inflation expectations, creating a feedback loop for central bank policy.
Market dispersion
When index components move in opposite directions following a rate change.
A tightening cycle can split the ASX 200
Illustrative
Stylised illustration of sector dispersion through a tightening cycle, with index levels rebased to 100.
Source. Stylised illustration based on typical sector behaviour during tightening cycles. Outcomes vary by cycle. Educational purposes only.
The Beginner Trap
What many new traders miss
Markets react to the gap between expectations and reality. A hike that is fully priced in can lead to a falling currency; a hold with hawkish guidance can trigger a rally. The chart is only one part of the story. The setup may look simple, but the risk rarely is.
"Success in these events comes from understanding what is already priced in, and what would change the view if it does not play out that way."
Common mistakes to avoid
• Trading headlines: The initial print is often misleading. Wait for the second wave (statement/press conference).
• Binary leverage: Volatility hits stops harder. Scale risk down into known event risks.
• Chasing moves: Entering late usually means buying exhaustion. Wait for clear retracements.
• Narrative vs. trade: A clear story doesn't guarantee a setup. Ask: "What is already in the price?"
• Indicator myopia: No single signal captures global flows. Watch yields and cross-asset confirmation.
• No Invalidation: Without a clear "I am wrong" level, traders hold losing positions far too long.
Next Strategic Step
Master the volatility cycle
Understanding how the cash rate moves the market is only half the battle. Learn how to read the "Fear Gauge" to identify when volatility creates high-probability entry points.
Every time markets get jumpy, a three-letter acronym starts showing up in headlines and trading rooms. The VIX. You will see it called the fear gauge, the fear index, or just "vol." For newer traders, it can feel like an insider's number that everyone seems to track but few stop to explain.
Here is the part many new traders miss. The VIX is not a prediction of where the market will go. It is a reading of how much movement the market expects in the near future. That distinction sounds small. It changes how the number should be used.
This Playbook breaks the VIX down for beginner to light-intermediate traders. Part 1 explains what it is and how it works. Part 2 turns that understanding into a practical, scenario-based process you can use to prepare, observe, and manage risk.
Before you look for a setup
Understand how this market actually behaves first. Use this guide as a starting point, then practise the concepts on charts, watchlists, and demo tools before applying them in live conditions.
Part 01
The 101 explainer
Build a clear, foundational understanding before you do anything else.
The basics
What is the VIX, in plain English
The VIX is the Cboe Volatility Index. It is a real-time index designed to measure the expected volatility of the S&P 500 over the next 30 days. It is calculated from the prices of S&P 500 index options.
Here is a simpler way to picture it. Imagine the options market is a giant insurance market for stocks. When traders are worried, they pay more for protection. When they are calm, that protection gets cheaper. The VIX takes those insurance prices and turns them into a single number.
The VIX is not a measure of what has happened. It is a measure of what option markets expect to happen, in terms of magnitude, not direction.
The VIX does not tell you whether the S&P 500 will go up or down. It tells you how much movement is being priced in.
The VIX is not directly tradable as a stock. Traders gain exposure through related products such as VIX futures, VIX options, and volatility-linked exchange-traded products.
The VIX has spiked during every major market stress event
Approximate monthly closing levels of the Cboe Volatility Index, 2007 to 2024
Illustrative
Source: Stylised representation based on publicly reported Cboe VIX historical data (Cboe Global Markets). Selected month-end values are indicative only and intended for educational illustration. The VIX peak of approximately 82 during March 2020 and the GFC peak above 80 in late 2008 are widely reported. Past performance is not an indication of future performance.
Why It Matters
Why the VIX matters to new traders
Even if you never plan to trade volatility directly, the VIX still matters. It is one of the cleanest reads on market sentiment available, and it tends to move in ways that reflect risk appetite across global markets.
When the VIX rises sharply, it often coincides with falls in equity indices, wider spreads in many CFD markets, and a flight to perceived safer assets such as the US dollar, gold, or government bonds. When the VIX is low and stable, conditions often favour trending behaviour and tighter spreads.
For CFD traders, this matters because leverage can magnify both gains and losses. Volatility is the engine behind both. A market that moves more in a day can offer more opportunity, but it also raises the risk of fast adverse moves, gaps around news, and stop-outs in thin liquidity.
Vocabulary
The key terms to know
You do not need to memorise every piece of options jargon to use the VIX. These are the terms that come up most often.
Implied volatility
The market's expectation of how much an asset will move in the future, derived from option prices. The VIX is built from implied volatility.
Realised volatility
How much the market actually moved over a past period. Useful for comparing expectations against reality.
S&P 500
The benchmark index of around 500 large US companies. The VIX is calculated from options on this index.
Mean reversion
The tendency of a series to return to its long-term average over time. The VIX is widely described as mean-reverting.
Contango
The normal shape of the VIX futures curve, where longer-dated contracts trade higher than the spot VIX. Why it matters: cost can eat into returns over time.
Backwardation
When longer-dated VIX futures trade below spot. Often short and accompanies fast-moving markets where fear is concentrated now.
Risk-on and risk-off
Shorthand for periods when investors are willing to take more risk, or pull back from riskier assets. VIX rises during risk-off.
Spread
The difference between the bid and ask price. Spreads on many CFD markets can widen during high-volatility events.
Liquidity
How easily an asset can be bought or sold without affecting its price. Liquidity tends to thin out around major news, which can amplify moves.
Mechanics
How it works in real market conditions
The VIX is not pulled out of a single price. It is calculated continuously throughout the US trading session from a wide range of S&P 500 index option prices, weighted by how close they are to current levels and how far out their expiries are.
The VIX tends to move inversely to the S&P 500 most of the time. When equities fall, demand for downside protection often rises, which pushes implied volatility higher. The relationship is not mechanical. There are days when both rise or fall together.
The VIX also tends to spike harder than it falls. Volatility can rise quickly when stress hits the system, then ease more gradually as conditions normalise. Up the elevator, down the escalator.
VIX and the S&P 500 typically move in opposite directions
Stylised illustration of the inverse relationship over a 12-month window
Illustrative
Source: Stylised illustration based on publicly available Cboe VIX and S&P 500 (S&P Dow Jones Indices) historical relationships. The depicted inverse correlation is widely documented in academic and industry research, although the strength of the relationship varies across regimes. Educational purposes only.
Most of the time, the VIX sits below 20
Approximate share of daily closes by VIX range, indicative long-run distribution
Illustrative
Source: Stylised distribution based on publicly reported Cboe VIX historical data spanning multiple decades. Buckets and percentages are indicative and intended for educational illustration. Distributions can shift across volatility regimes.
K
Market IntelligenceDon’t trade the average. Track the split.
Use GO Markets charts, alerts and watchlists to monitor how the K-shaped consumer theme connects with the VIX.