E43: Where to Find a Safe Harbor In Turbulent Times
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Amid global trade uncertainty and geopolitical risk, Australia’s resilient economy and AAA-rating position it as a potential safe haven, offering a developed-market risk profile with emerging-market-type yields.
- The Reserve Bank of Australia’s cautious interest rate policy diverges from global peers, while structural outflows from its $4T pension system are reshaping capital flows and the currency's long-term outlook.
- Looking ahead, while the RBA is expected to cut rates, a positive U.S. growth surprise could amplify Australia’s safe haven appeal, attracting investment and boosting its high-beta currency.
Brent Robinson sits down with Josh Williamson and Faraz Syed to discuss how Australia and New Zealand are faring amid current uncertainties. Conversation topics include potential U.S. tariffs, trade relations with China, Australia’s monetary-policy path, and whether it and New Zealand can be safe havens for investors.
This podcast contains thematic content and is not intended to be investment research. Nor does it constitute financial, economic, legal, tax or accounting advice. This podcast is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer or solicitation to purchase or sell any financial instruments. The contents of this podcast are not based on your individual circumstances and should not be relied upon as an assessment of suitability for you of a particular product, security, or transaction. The information in this podcast is based on generally available information and, although obtained from sources believed by Citi to be reliable, its accuracy and completeness are not guaranteed. Past performance is not a guarantee or indication of future results. This podcast may not be copied or distributed, in whole or in part, without the express written consent of Citi. © 2025 Citigroup Global Markets Inc. Member SIPC. All rights reserved. Citi and Citi and Arc Design are trademarks and service marks of Citigroup Inc. or its affiliates and are used and registered throughout the world.
Brent Robinson, Asia Head of Citi Research
Brent Robinson is a Managing Director and Head of Research Cluster – Japan, North Asia & South Asia. Brent has been instrumental in driving the Citi Research franchise to become a top house in Asia Pacific today. He joined Citi in September 2005 from Macquarie Securities, where he was deputy head of Asia Pacific research and head of Pan-Asian industry research since 2002. Brent was promoted to his current role in July 2009. Prior to that, he spent 16 years at Merrill Lynch, including 10 years in New York, where he worked in a variety of roles relating to unit trusts, sales-trading, trading and private client research. Brent moved to Hong Kong in 1996 as Product Manager for Asian research, and was subsequently promoted to Deputy Head of Research for Asia Pacific. Brent completed his Bachelor's degree at the University of South Carolina in 1985 and his MBA degree at Kellogg/HKUST in 2000.
Josh Williamson, Chief Economist Australia & New Zealand
As AU and NZ Chief Economist, Joshua Williamson is responsible for Citi’s economic, monetary, and fiscal policy views for these economies. He has over 20 years’ experience in macroeconomic and financial market research and analysis at Citi, TD Securities, and the Treasury Corporation of Victoria. He also worked for over five years as a microeconomic industry analyst specializing in the energy, trade and manufacturing sectors, focusing on market structure, performance and governance, for the South Australian and Victorian state governments. Joshua holds a Bachelor of Applied Economics degree from the University of South Australia, a Graduate Diploma of Advanced Economics from the University of Adelaide, obtained part credits for a Master’s Degree from the University of Melbourne, and is AFMA accredited. He is also on the Committee of the Australian Business Economists group and previously held a board position in the disability sector.
Faraz Syed, Senior Economist Australia & New Zealand
Faraz Syed is a Senior Economist at Citi Research Australia/New Zealand. Faraz joined in Citi Research in 2019 from Moody’s Analytics, where he was an Economist producing thematic analysis on domestic macroeconomic issues and country forecasts for Australia, Japan, and India. Faraz also led Moody’s research on Australia’s housing market, including the econometric modelling for CoreLogic-Moody’s Analytics’ Australian housing model. Prior to Moody’s, Faraz worked as a research economist at the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences. Faraz holds a Bachelor of Economics (Honours) and a Bachelor of Applied Finance from Macquarie University and is currently completing his Masters in Economics.
