Australian Retirement Trust flags potential RBA rate hikes coming in late 2026 as persistent inflation reshapes the global economic landscape. Sticky inflation—the kind that sticks around despite rate increases—has become the new baseline rather than temporary. But rate hikes aren't the only headwind on the horizon. Rising geopolitical tensions, shifting policy frameworks, and diverging central bank strategies are creating a more complex backdrop for asset allocation. For investors, this means rethinking traditional hedges and staying alert to how inflation dynamics could shift the yield curve and risk premiums across different markets.