Boost savings with compound interest If your goal is to save for the future, or perhaps start putting away for your children’s education – then unless you plan on putting your savings under your mattress, the sooner you start the better. That’s because you could be missing out on earning compound interest along the way that could make a stark difference to the overall amount you save. The difference between simple interest and compound interest …
Weekly Market Update 8 November 2019 Investment markets and key developments over the past week The past week saw most share markets push higher on the back of positive news regarding US/China trade talks, benign economic data and some optimism that global growth will pick up, with the US share market making it to a new record high. Australian shares benefitted from the positive global led by strong gains in resources, IT and consumer discretionary …
Resist today, Relax tomorrow. Can you recite the last line of Gone with the Wind? If not, you’ll find the answer at the end of this article. If you scrolled down straight away, you might be too keen for your own good. We’ve all heard that patience is a virtue, and it can even save you money. For people figuring out how to fund the lifestyle they’d like in retirement, now’s a good time to remember the …
Weekly Market Update 1 November 2019 Investment markets and key developments over the past week The past week saw US shares push to new record highs helped by good earnings results and Fed easing, but other share markets were soft not helped by mixed news on US/China trade talks and still soft global economic data. Increasing talk that the RBA may be done cutting saw the Australian share market fall led lower by financials, consumer and …
High times for low interest rates With mortgage rates at their lowest since the days of black and white TV, this might be the right time to make a serious dent in your home loan. Lower rates mean any money you have in the bank could be earning less interest. But if you have a variable home loan rate and your lender passes on the cut, you’ll pay off more of your loan faster just …
Weekly Market Update 25 October 2019 Investment markets and key developments over the past week The past week saw most major share markets push higher helped by generally good US earnings reports, benign geopolitical news and optimism that global recession will be avoided. Australian shares benefitted from the positive global lead with strong gains in resources, utilities, consumer discretionary, health and property stocks. Bond yields rose in the US but fell slightly elsewhere. Commodity prices …
Weekly Market Update 18 October 2019 Investment markets and key developments over the past week The past week saw major share markets continue to push higher helped by the lessening in geopolitical risks around trade and Brexit and a solid start to US September quarter earnings reports. Australian shares also rose with solid gains in energy, health, consumer discretionary, industrial and financial shares but a sharp fall in material stocks and reduced expectations for rate cuts …
How do you save for that rainy day? It’s not just our farmers who keep their eyes on the horizon for rain. Recent research found almost twice as many Australians think saving for an emergency or a rainy day is more important than putting cash away for a holiday. Indeed, saving for a rainy day is our number one savings priority. According to AMP Bank, those aged between 35 and 44 years old are …
Weekly Market Update 11 October 2019 Investment markets and key developments over the past week Investment markets were whipsawed over the past week by conflicting reports regarding prospects for the latest US/China face to face trade talks in Washington on Thursday and Friday, with optimism prevailing later in the week. US shares still fell but Eurozone, Japanese and Chinese shares all rose. Australian shares also rose led by health, telco, IT and industrial shares. Trade talk …
Spending money in a cashless world How the move to electronic payments could be making it easier to spend…and what to do about it. It’s Thursday morning and almost the end of the working week. You’re walking to the train station and you realise you’ve forgotten to top up your public transport card. No matter…a few clicks later and you’ve transferred $50 over. At the station you grab a takeaway flat white before the train …
