John McGrath
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Ontario policy and politics, TVO | jmcgrath@tvo.org | jm_mcgrath.01 on signal
'JM will do all the nerdy public policy stuff' -@spaikin
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Articles by John McGrath
The data advantage: How better FX data drives better pricing, hedging and execution
In institutional FX, almost every important decision ultimately starts with data. From the price a bank shows its client, to the liquidity it chooses to hedge against, to the way it manages risk and executes trades, the quality and timeliness of market data can directly influence both client experience and trading performance. For a bank, the impact goes far beyond execution.
Credit Risk Transfers: What Every Asset Manager Should Ask Before Investing
D Dechert More Dechert is the law firm that helps business leaders lead. For more than 150 years, we have advised clients on critical issues – from high-stakes litigation to first-in-market transaction structures and complex regulatory matters. Our lawyers in commercial centers worldwide are immersed in the key sectors we serve – financial services, private capital, real estate, life sciences and technology. Dechert delivers unwavering partnership so our clients can achieve unprecedented results.
Credit Risk Transfers: What Every Asset Manager Should Ask Before Investing
Credit risk transfer (CRT) transactions (also known as significant risk transfer (SRT) transactions outside the United States) are structures that market participants in the U.S., U.K., the E.U. and (increasingly) Asia use both as a form of credit risk management as well as a form of investment. For banks, government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs), regulated institutions, and other lenders, CRTs optimize regulatory capital usage, manage concentration limits and offload credit risk.
Volume 195, Issue 2, August 2026
British Journal of Dermatology, BJD, is a leading international dermatology journal from the British Association of Dermatologists advancing the understanding and management of skin disease to improve patient outcomes
Yeast β-glucan supplementation supports immunometabolic anti-tumor responses and reverses obesity-induced dysfunction via trained hematopoiesis
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To better understand how β-glucan interacts with diet-induced obesity at the level of the BM, we examined features of trained myelopoiesis in HFD or HFD-WGP fed mice. Both HFD and HFD-WGP feeding expanded numbers of LKS+ progenitors and skewed differentiation toward myeloid-biased MPP3 cells, irrespective of fat source (Palm; Figures 6A and 6B & Lard; Figures S6A and S6B).
By Anna E Ledwith, Hannah Prendeville, Stephen Cunningham Verified, John McGrath Verified, Carrie Corkish, Aaron Walsh, Fatma Koc, Hugo Charles-Messance, Caitlín Ní Chasaide, Heike C. Hawerkamp, David Finlay Verified, Lydia Lynch, Kingston H.G. Mills, Catherine Stanton, Helen Roche, Frederick Sheedy, Vasile Mihai Sularea
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Cell Reports
Verified
FX Options’ growth: Which platforms win?
The latest BIS FX survey confirmed what many participants and fintech’s across the market already knew – FX options are becoming one of the fastest-growing segments of global foreign exchange trading. As a reminder FX Options Average Daily Volume (ADV) doubled according to the BIS report from 2022 to 2025 at $634 billion. While spot and swaps FX remain enormous, the strategic energy increasingly sits elsewhere — in volatility, optionality and more sophisticated hedging and trading workflows.
Volume 195, Issue 1, July 2026
British Journal of Dermatology, BJD, is a leading international dermatology journal from the British Association of Dermatologists advancing the understanding and management of skin disease to improve patient outcomes
Volume 194, Issue 6, June 2026
The gut microbiome of patients with chronic hand eczema (CHE) is different from healthy individuals and enriched in bacteria with immunomodulatory properties. These differences are more important for patients with nonatopic CHE, opening the door to microbiome-based therapeutic strategies in this patient population.
John McGrath – The importance of being a disciplined investor
It’s not surprising that for several years now, renter and investor issues have been a popular conversation at dinner tables and get togethers. After all, one in five Australians now own an investment property, according to the latest data from Westpac.
John McGrath – Auction or private treaty: what’s the better option for you?
If you’re planning to sell this Autumn, you and your agent will need to decide whether you’ll sell via auction or private treaty. Some agents will advise you that an auction’s competitive atmosphere guarantees the best price. Others will say a private treaty sale is the more effective way to achieve this. While there is truth in both points of view, I don’t believe there is one generic best way of selling.
Volume 194, Issue 5, May 2026
Associations between early-life exposures and the infant skin microbiome We studied the infant skin microbiome during the first year of life, using skin swabs and clinical data collected during the Enquiring About Tolerance (EAT) clinical trial, and found that the skin microbiome was primarily determined by body site and age. There were significant, but weaker associations with ethnicity, FLG mutation status, urban vs. rural residence and regular bath product use.
John McGrath – Why buyers are choosing new builds over existing homes
The new housing market continues to attract home buyers, especially those buying for the first time. There’s good reasons for this, including government assistance programs. Buying brand new can also mean less stress and gives buyers the option of moving into “turn key” or ready-built properties, often in rapidly growing locations. The latest NAB Residential Property Survey highlighted that in the June 2025 quarter, first-home buyers (FHB)s’ market share of new housing increased to 40%.
John McGrath – Don’t cool your property plans this Autumn
, and I expect healthy buyer numbers at open homes and auctions, following a very active Spring and Summer. Cotality’s latest Home Value Index found mid-sized capitals Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide, continue to achieve excellent month-on-month growth of more than 1%. Perth’s median dwelling value of $989,211 is now the third highest in the country, after Sydney and Brisbane.
The Real Estate Conversation
Brisbane Agent’s Iconic Long Lunch Raises Over Half a Million for Melanoma Research Brisbane’s business and property leaders turned out in force together with Place Bulimba agent Cathy Eastwood, alongside her team and Dominique Robinson OAM GAICD, raising more than $535,000 at her fifth annual charity lunch in collaboration with Tour de Cure. John McGrath – Don’t cool your property plans this Autumn By John McGrath, Chief Executive Officer of McGrath Estate Agents.
John McGrath – Buying property with friends or family
Co-owning a home with a relative or friend is becoming increasingly popular, particularly for first home buyers and younger people, with this option offering a swifter, smoother journey to homeownership. And, I’m not talking about financial help from the Bank of Mum and Dad. The latest data from NAB shows that joint home loans between friends and family members increased by more than 33% between August 2024 and July 2025.
JM – Regional property values out-perform capitals once more
I’ve closely observed Australia’s regional property markets for years, and it looks like 2026 will bring some more big changes to these areas. It’s been pretty interesting to see how our regions have become the one and only place to be for hundreds of city buyers recently. The latest Regional Movers Index found capital-to-region migration accounted for 11.5% of our biggest relocations in the September 2025 quarter. In comparison, region-to-capital moves totalled just 8.4%.
JM – Regional Market Update: Regional property values out-perform capitals once more
I’ve closely observed Australia’s regional property markets for years, and it looks like 2026 will bring some more big changes to these areas. It’s been pretty interesting to see how our regions have become the one and only place to be for hundreds of city buyers recently. The latest Regional Movers Index found capital-to-region migration accounted for 11.5% of our biggest relocations in the September 2025 quarter. In comparison, region-to-capital moves totalled just 8.4%.
JM – Gen Z buyers increasingly focus on investment possibilities
By John McGrath, Chief Executive Officer of McGrath Estate Agents. I’ve talked recently about 46-60-year-old Generation X (Gen X)or the “sandwich generation”, and how this group is shaping current and future housing, including government policies. But following close behind Gen X is the very different Gen Z group, who are also significant, albeit for dissimilar reasons. For a start, don’t be fooled by Gen Zers’ younger age of 14 to 29years old.
John McGrath - Apartments vs detached houses: which one should you buy?
Easter is now only a month away, and the real estate market is well into another strong stride for this year, with Cotality highlighting the last week of February was the nation’s busiest period of auctions since late March, 2025. Some of these auction buyers are likely to be entry-level renters who I expect will enter the market this year as first home-buyers, and look for properties within their budget, in particular, apartments and townhouses, rather than detached homes.
John McGrath - Why the typical Australian home is changing
Australia’s property market is changing fast, with strong housing gains and values across the nation generally being the norm. Yet our properties themselves have also undergone major transformations in recent decades. The typical Australian home is no longer large, brick veneer and freestanding, on a generous block. Instead, we’re increasingly seeing compact and energy efficient properties, designed for both living and working, rather than size.
John McGrath - Why regional areas continue to be popular
Regional locations’ low property prices along with their strong infrastructure and amenities continue to ensure they’re a worthwhile prospect for sea and tree changers. The latest Regional Movers Index found the number of people relocating from capital cities to rural Australia rose by 2.5% in the September 2025 quarter. The Sunshine Coast and Greater Geelong on Victoria’s scenic Surf Coast again attracted the largest net migration figures from capital cities to regional areas.
FCA And PRA Publish Consultation Papers On Reforming The UK Securitisation Framework
D Dechert More Dechert is a global law firm that advises asset managers, financial institutions and corporations on issues critical to managing their business and their capital – from high-stakes litigation to complex transactions and regulatory matters. We answer questions that seem unsolvable, develop deal structures that are new to the market and protect clients' rights in extreme situations.
John McGrath - How the “Sandwich Generation” is shaping current and future housing
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA)’s 0.25% rate rise two weeks ago was largely expected by industry experts and lenders. But our first increase since November 2023 was unsurprisingly, not welcome news for home owners and buyers. Cotality believes that while the lift to 3.85% won’t alter the immediate housing market balance, the outlook for the cash rate remains clouded. At the same time, the national Home Value Index has already risen by 9% since the rate cutting cycle began a year ago.
John McGrath - Confidence returns to Tasmania’s property market
Hobart’s property market, along with those of Launceston and Devonport, should finally experience some real recovery in 2026, following three difficult years. This recovery first began in 2025 and although moderate, will grow stronger this year, as confidence returns to the Apple Isle’s overall economy. We take a good look at the positive details shaping Tasmania’s property market in our McGrath Report 2026.
John McGrath - Brisbane’s property market continues to shine in 2026
It’s no secret that Brisbane is by far the most the attractive capital city in Australia, with property values experiencing impressive growth in recent years. This growth is expected to continue in 2026, although it may moderate in the second half of the year as affordability bites. At $1,131,329, Brisbane’s median house values are now only one place behind Sydney, according to Cotality’s Home Value Index this month, after surpassing $1 million for the first time in May 2025.
CFTC Staff Simplifies Its U.S. Person Definitions
Dechert are most popular: within Consumer Protection, Antitrust/Competition Law and Tax topic(s) with readers working within the Banking & Credit industries On December 9, 2025, the Market Participants Division, Division of Clearing and Risk, and Division of Market Oversight of the CFTC (the "Divisions") issued no-action relief permitting flexibility to market participants in applying the three separate definitions of "U.S. person" and "guarantee" set forth in the CFTC regulations in the...
John McGrath - What’s ahead for 2026 market
With a new year comes new possibilities and opportunities for the property market. Will the Reserve Bank hand out more interest rate cuts? Will high values continue? Will lagging markets finally enjoy some growth? While anything is possible in a new year, I expect to see an increase in buyers’ resilience, creativity, and determination to gain a hold on the property market, regardless of continued high values.
John McGrath - End-of-year wrap: 2025 in the rear-view mirror
With just over two weeks of 2025 remaining, Christmas budgets are expected to be as tight as they were last year as the cost-of-living crunch continues. But there has been some good news for the property market this year, and there could be more to come in 2026. Firstly, as discussed in the McGrath Report 2026, some of housing’s major issues, such as construction cost increases, began to moderate this year.
John McGrath - Solid outlook for Melbourne as growth increases
Melbourne’s property market continued to gain momentum in 2025, after five years of sluggish growth. As of September 2024, the southern capital city shifted from being the second most expensive capital city market in 2020, to the third most affordable, according to Cotality’s Housing Affordability Report last month. Cotality’s latest Home Value Index confirmed this position, with Melbourne’s median dwelling value now $823,495, following a 4.2% annual lift.
John McGrath - Sydney’s property market continues to set the pace
Sydney’s property market continued to experience strong resilience in 2025, despite home value growth still falling behind Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide, along with already elevated prices and cost-of-living pressures. Yet as we discuss in our recently released McGrath Report 2026, Sydney remains Australia’s powerhouse property market for other reasons as well.
Schizophrenia - Nature Reviews Disease Primers
Abstract Schizophrenia is a challenging and diverse mental health condition with a lifetime prevalence of 0.4%. Schizophrenia usually manifests in late adolescence or early adulthood and is associated with high disability and a reduced life expectancy. Risk factors include genetic predisposition, prenatal and birth complications, infections and immune dysfunction, and cannabis use as well as psychosocial factors such as childhood trauma or migration.
John McGrath - “Lifestyle over life stress”: looking for the good life
As we approach the summer holidays, some people are winding down for the year but others are honing in on potential property purchases – and moves – in 2026. According to the 2025 Muval Index, Google searches for removalists have dropped by 22% since 2019 and are now at their lowest level since 2006. “We’re seeing people delay, downsize, or sacrifice key lifestyle elements in order to find a place to call home,” said James Morrell, chief executive officer of Muval.
‘New Boomers’ winning the rich race
News ANALYSIS As we head into summer, sellers are continuing to enjoy strong capital gains. The latest housing data indicates that not only are national home values still increasing, but the pace of this growth has also accelerated. The 1.1 per cent national gain in October pushed the annual pace of growth to 6.1 per cent nationally and is the fastest monthly gain since June 2023. Most sellers will enjoy property growth to some degree.
John McGrath - Why our love for regional areas continues
Buyers continue to flock to tree and sea change areas around the country, and there’s good reason for this. Cotality’s latest Regional Market Report reveals that combined regional value growth reacted favourably to this year’s three rate cuts, although this response was milder than our capital cities. Lismore in NSW’s Northern Rivers showed a 7% increase in quarterly growth – the strongest in the country’s 50 largest non-capital city markets.
John McGrath - How Gen X has won the generational capital gains race
As we head into summer, sellers are continuing to enjoy strong capital gains. The latest Cotality Home Value Index (HVI) indicates that not only are national home values still increasing, but the pace of this growth has also accelerated. The 1.1% national gain in October pushed the annual pace of growth to 6.1% nationally and is the fastest monthly gain since June 2023. Most sellers will enjoy property growth to some degree. But I believe that Generation (Gen) X will benefit most from this.
John McGrath - Have we run out of homes?
Last week, we released the 2026 McGrath Report, which reveals three property important trends as well as my top suburb picks for the new year in NSW, Queensland, Victoria, and Tasmania. There are plenty of other reasons to read the report, namely its overarching theme, ‘Have we run out of homes?’ Here I examine the complexities of Australia’s housing crisis, including severe labour shortages and construction costs, and the issues that are of key concern.
John McGrath - Have we run out of homes?
Last week, we released the 2026 McGrath Report, which reveals three property important trends as well as my top suburb picks for the new year in NSW, Queensland, Victoria, and Tasmania. There are plenty of other reasons to read the report, namely its overarching theme, ‘Have we run out of homes?’ Here I examine the complexities of Australia’s housing crisis, including severe labour shortages and construction costs, and the issues that are of key concern.
John McGrath - How to sell in an active spring market
In a strong seller’s market, like the one we’re currently experiencing, vendors can sometimes become complacent. With properties in many locations selling within days and enjoying excellent capital growth, often sellers don’t feel the need to attract buyers with a great marketing campaign or stylists. This Spring, there’s certainly more confidence from a seller’s perspective.
John McGrath - How to buy in a tight spring market
Cotality research director Tim Lawless recently commented that vendors are in a strong position as they head into what will be a very active Spring selling season. I couldn’t agree more. Buyers should prepare to compete against larger than usual crowds at open homes and auctions - and not just because Spring is traditionally the busiest time of year for real estate. Both sales and rental markets in areas like Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth are still very tight.
CFTC Staff Extends Relief To Certain RIAs Operating Private Commodity Pools
D Dechert More Dechert is a global law firm that advises asset managers, financial institutions and corporations on issues critical to managing their business and their capital – from high-stakes litigation to complex transactions and regulatory matters. We answer questions that seem unsolvable, develop deal structures that are new to the market and protect clients' rights in extreme situations.
John McGrath - Solid success continues in the prestige property market
Brisbane’s median house value is now over $1 million for the first time on record, according to recent Cotality data. But while this figure might shock the average Australian enduring a cost-of-living crisis, plenty of other buyers see $1 million-plus as affordable buying. In fact, the prestige property market is extremely bouyant. And by prestige, I mean $5 million to $20 million-plus sales – or generally speaking, the top 5% of all property transactions.
‘Confused but committed’: Huge change in Aussie home buying
News Victoria Buying a home remains a strong aspiration for most Australians but first home buyers are waiting longer to buy their first property. According to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data, the average age of first home buyers is now 37. Commonwealth Bank figures also show that the largest cohort of these buyers (40 per cent) are purchasing property on their own. High property prices and a housing supply crunch are key reasons for this trend.
Secret areas where Aussie home prices are booming
It’s not just Australia’s capital cities that are undergoing a property market rebalance. In a convergence of suburban areas and regional towns, we’re seeing the latter experiencing performance moderations very similar to capital cities. The value gap between the regions and the capital cities is continuing to narrow and, just like our nation’s cities, the value momentum in our regions’ hottest towns is slowing down as weaker ones increase in popularity.
John McGrath - Regional centres’ change of pace opens doors to buyers
It’s not just Australia’s capital cities that are undergoing aproperty market rebalance. In a convergence of suburban areas and regional towns, we’re seeing the latter experiencingperformance moderations very similar to capital cities. The value gap between the regions and the capital cities is continuing to narrow and, just like our nation’s cities, the value momentum in our regions’ hottest towns is slowing down as weaker ones increase in popularity.
John McGrath - It’s never too late to buy your first home
Buying a home remains a strong aspiration for most Australians but first home buyers are waiting longer to buy their first property. According to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data, the average age of first home buyers is now 37. Commonwealth Bank figures also show that the largest cohort of these buyers (40%) are purchasing property on their own. High property prices and a housing supply crunch are key reasons for this trend. But there are other reasons for this change as well.
John McGrath - How to prepare for a new financial year
Even with an accountant, organising your tax return is not fun or easy. But if you’re an existing homeowner or planning to buy a home soon, it literally pays to start forward thinking for a new financial year sooner, rather than later. I’m a big proponent of reserving some time every week of the year to arrange your property’s receipts, income statements, bills and similar.
John McGrath - School zone or school fees? The choice many families are making
For many families, choosing where to live isn’t just about affordability or proximity to work. Increasingly, it’s about access to a quality public education for their children. New data from Cotality shows families are willing to pay significant premiums for the privilege. They’re stretching their budgets to buy homes in desirable public school catchment zones rather than paying private school fees for up to 13 years.
Huge profits as 20-year home move expires
There’s a significant new trend in property investment: for the past three years, a majority of Australian investors have been positively or neutrally geared. That means their rental income has met or exceeded their expenses, including loan repayments. As a result, they’ve been pocketing extra income each year on top of any capital gains. This is a significant shift given the previous 20-year trend of most investors being negatively geared.
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