Donald Trump, gold, interest rates and AI data centres to dominate company reporting season

US President Donald Trump’s Liberation Day, the administration’s reciprocal tariffs, and global trade policy chaos have had the new financial year begin with a bang. But, at the halfway mark, analysts say corporate Australia has found its mojo. “About six months ago, we were expecting that for the financial year 2026 earnings for the overall ASX 200 would grow only by about 3 per cent,” UBS equity strategist Richard Schellbach said. Leading the earnings charge is Australia’s mining sector, boosted by signs of a stabilisation in the Chinese economy, and a turbo-charged commodities market. “We’re seeing copper and gold near…