Cecile Lefort

The Reserve Bank of Australia's decision to keep interest rates on hold this month has emboldened traders and market economists that the central

They may be an increasingly small number, but a defiant minority of economists say they remain convinced that the Reserve Bank of Australia will increase interest rates despite market conviction they have peaked.

The Australian dollar has come under pressure after the US Federal Reserve unexpectedly signalled that interest rates could start to climb in the world's largest economy this year if inflation continued to creep higher.

When high-profile stock picker Phil King texted Jackson Aldridge out of the blue, asking him for a coffee, Aldridge genuinely thought it was a prank.

Strategists warn the S&P/ASX 200 Index will lag its global rivals as high rates, elevated valuations and property tax changes push capital overseas.

Hedge funds have ratcheted up their bets against Australian stocks to $61 billion since the start of the year. But there are some heavily shorted stocks that haven’t played ball.