Author name: Kai Chen

Kai Chen — CIO An accomplished high-frequency trader with over a decade of experience. Proficient in algorithmic strategies, Kai has successfully steered trading initiatives across various markets. His extensive background in quantitative analysis makes him a uniquely knowledgeable investment advisor. Qualifications: RG146; General Advice Stockbroking (2023); Bachelor of Commerce, Actuarial & Finance (2012); Masters in Funds Management (2014) Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kai-chen-38994648/

MPC Morning Call

Stocks lower as Iran Escalates Oil Spikes Higher

/

Wall Street sold off to close out August as fresh US airstrikes on Iran and tanker attacks in the Strait of Hormuz sent WTI crude surging 5.9% to $90.82 a barrel. The S&P 500 fell 0.71% to 7,631.47 while the Nasdaq dropped 1.03% to 26,099.77, dragged by a 2.1% slide in semiconductor stocks. Bond yields spiked across the globe, with the US 10-year hitting 4.79% and Japan’s 10-year breaching 3% for the first time since 1996. ASX 200 futures point to a weaker open, down 79 points.

MPC Morning Call

US/Canada Trade Tensions

/

Wall Street closed higher on Friday but booked losses for the week as surging bond yields and Iran sanctions fears whipsawed sentiment. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq snapped three-week winning streaks while the Dow posted its second straight weekly decline. Oil rose for a sixth consecutive session after President Trump threatened sanctions on Iran’s trading partners, and billionaire Ray Dalio warned a US debt crisis could arrive within three years. ASX 200 SPI futures point to a 41-point rise at the Monday open as attention shifts to Nvidia earnings, Jackson Hole, and Australian CPI this week.

MPC Morning Call

Bond Yields and Iran Dominate a Seesaw Week

/

Wall Street closed higher on Friday but booked losses for the week as surging bond yields and Iran sanctions fears whipsawed sentiment. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq snapped three-week winning streaks while the Dow posted its second straight weekly decline. Oil rose for a sixth consecutive session after President Trump threatened sanctions on Iran’s trading partners, and billionaire Ray Dalio warned a US debt crisis could arrive within three years. ASX 200 SPI futures point to a 41-point rise at the Monday open as attention shifts to Nvidia earnings, Jackson Hole, and Australian CPI this week.

Bulls vs. Bears

Bulls vs Bears EP133: US Debt Brings Gold Back! ASX Earnings Review

/

It’s been a quiet week, so the team revisits the forgotten thematics of 2026, from rare earths and strategic metals pulling back 41% from their highs, to the software sector finally catching a bid after private equity stepped in on Workday. We unpack what’s next for ASX earnings season with NAB, BHP, CSL and JB Hi-Fi on deck, why private equity keeps picking off undervalued ASX mid-caps, and whether AI’s “neocloud” phase is where the real money gets made. Plus, Kai explains why AI agents escaping sandboxes should have you paying attention to cybersecurity.

MPC Morning Call

‘Bessent Put’ Fades as Bond Selloff Resumes

/

Wall Street fell 0.9% as Treasury Secretary Bessent’s bond buyback relief reversed within 24 hours, with 10-year yields pushing above 4.70% and US debt crossing $40 trillion. Oil surged past $93 on Trump’s “economic D-Day” threat against Iran, while Walmart’s worst comparable sales miss in six years rattled consumer confidence. The ASX faces a softer open with futures down 0.3%.

Bulls vs. Bears

Bulls vs Bears EP128: Is it time to abandon chip?

/

Then TSMC dropped a 77% profit beat on Thursday and the stock fell 2.3%. The SOX index tanked 4%. SanDisk lost 12.5%, Seagate 10%. Netflix missed after hours and shed 8.6%. The market is telling you something when it sells the best numbers in semiconductor history. It is telling you the trade is priced, the capex numbers are scaring people, and the next move is more likely down than up.

Bulls vs. Bears, MPC Morning Call

Bulls vs Bears: Chips Stocks Win becomes the hyper scalers loss

/

The week that closed the first half of 2026 delivered something more interesting than a directional market move: it forced a clarification. The AI trade is not over. It’s just been redrafted. The hyperscalers — companies spending hundreds of billions to build the infrastructure — are getting sold. The companies supplying that infrastructure at margins they can barely keep up with are getting bought. Micron’s blowout quarterly result, released Wednesday night, was the exclamation mark on a week that started with the “Chip Wreck” and ended with a very different conversation.

Bulls vs. Bears

The Next Mega IPO’s

/

After SpaceX lit the fuse on the IPO market, investors are already asking the next question: who is next? In this episode of Bulls vs Bears, we look at the coming wave of mega IPOs — from AI giants like OpenAI, Anthropic and Databricks to fintech names like Stripe — and ask whether these listings are genuine long-term opportunities or simply a way for private-market insiders to cash out at peak valuations.

Education, MacroTrends, Structured Investments

The Modern Wealth Formula: A Smarter Way to Build Wealth in Australia

/

The 60/40 portfolio had a good run. Decades, actually. But the idea that you can split your money between shares and bonds, rebalance once a year and retire comfortably? That world ended. And if 2022 didn’t convince you, we reckon nothing will. Both sides of the portfolio fell in tandem. Bonds were supposed to be the shock absorber. Instead they were just another source of pain.

Education, MacroTrends

Should I Buy the SpaceX IPO?

/

“Should I buy the SpaceX IPO?” I’ve been asked this for weeks now. At work, on Ausbiz, at Saturday sport, dinner parties. My answer depends on who’s asking.

If you’re a genuine space nerd who loves the science and the future tech, buy a small amount to be involved. If you know nothing about the company and you’re looking for a quick buck, give it a miss.

That might sound glib, but there’s a real point underneath it. If you genuinely love the space “space”, you’re likely to have the patience to watch billions go up in flames, like the Blue Origin explosion at Cape Canaveral on May 29. If you’re an Elon fan, you’re probably patient with his flexible product timelines. But if you’re looking for value, this is not for you.

Education, MacroTrends

What is a Dividend Trap?

/

What is a dividend trap and how do you spot one before it costs you? Red flags, ASX examples like Telstra and Woodside, a dividend health scorecard, and smarter income alternatives. MPC Markets 2026.

Education, MacroTrends

MPC Markets and Heir Wealth Partnership

/

The ASX growth vs income debate has become tribal. But what actually matters is understanding what defines a growth share, where they cluster on our market, and why their risks differ from US counterparts. We break down the sectors, the traps, and how to build a sensible growth allocation.

Scroll to Top