In this episode of The Week in Markets, Equities Research Analyst Jen-Ai Chua highlights key central bank rate decisions scheduled this week, and their implications for the allocation of assets by investors. The US FOMC’s decision on 13 December to hold was accompanied by encouraging commentary on softer inflation, paving the way for rate cuts in 2024. Meanwhile, the better than expected showing in the BoJ’s December Tankan lends more support to the end of negative interest rates. decisions. Both developments are positive for income assets like the global REITs and Asian investment grade bonds, which Julius Baer as a house has upgraded to Neutral and Overweight respectively.