Australian house prices on the upswing again – seven things to bear in mind about the Australian property market

  Australian house prices on the upswing again – seven things to bear in mind about the Australian property market   Key points Expect average Australian home prices to rise 5-10% this year and next as ultra-low interest rates and economic recovery feed through. However, the outlook is divergent – with houses expected to outperform units and smaller cities and regional property expected to play catch up. The drivers of the long-term property bull market …

Market Update 12 February 2021

Market Update 12 February 2021 Investment markets and key developments over the past week Global share markets rose again over the last week helped by good US earnings, declining new coronavirus cases and ongoing assurance of easy monetary policy and US fiscal stimulus. Australian shares fell slightly for the week though led by declines in energy, industrial, material and utility stocks not helped by Friday’s news of yet another snap lockdown – this time in Victoria. …

Is your Christmas debt still hanging around? How to clear a debt hangover | Money & Life

  Is your Christmas debt still hanging around? How to clear a debt hangover After an incredibly difficult 2020, many of us used the Christmas period as an opportunity to splash out and make up for what we missed out on during the year. But if the urge to say good riddance to 2020 put your finances on shaky ground, here’s how to reset for the year ahead. After being separated from family and friends …

Nine common mistakes investors make

Nine common mistakes investors make Key points Many of the mistakes investors make are based on common sense rules of thumb that turn out to be wrong. As a result, it’s often wise for investors to turn common sense logic on its head. The easiest way to avoid many of these mistakes is to have a long-term investment plan that aligns your financial goals with your risk tolerance. Introduction In the confusing and often seemingly …

AMP backs campaign for digital awareness this Safer Internet Day

AMP backs campaign for digital awareness this Safer Internet Day Research shows that almost 70 per cent of adults have experienced a negative interaction online. This can include repeated unwanted messages or contact, hate speech, abuse and threats, viruses and scams. February 9, 2021 is Safer Internet Day and AMP is backing the eSafety Commissioner’s call for all of us to ‘Start the Chat’ around the best ways to stay safe on the web. Original …

Australian housing finance is booming… but can it continue?

Australian housing finance is booming… but can it continue? What the data is saying According to figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) , the total value of new loan commitments for housing and within that, the value of owner occupier home loan commitments each reached record highs last month. Some key figures include: 1. The total value of new loan commitments for housing rose 8.6 per cent to $26 billion (seasonally adjusted.) This …

Market Update 05 February 2021

Market Update 05 February 2021 Investment markets and key developments over the past week Global share markets rebounded over the last week helped by good economic data and earnings news, reduced concerns around vaccines and as worries about the Reddit/day trader crowd adding to volatility fizzled. This saw the US share market rise to a new record high. Reflecting the positive global lead along with strong Australian data and a very dovish message from the RBA …

How to protect your finances from cybercrime

  How to protect your finances from cybercrime Cybercrime rose sharply in 2020, as more people worked, shopped and socialised online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Anyone can be a target, so it’s essential to be proactive when it comes to protecting your finances and identity online. Our digital tools and technology were a welcome relief last year, allowing us to stay connected through successive lockdowns and social distancing measures. But with the sudden and …

5 tips for creating your own good fortune this Lunar New Year

5 tips for creating your own good fortune this Lunar New Year The Lunar New Year begins on 12 February, as we usher in the year of the Ox. Ancient Lunar New Year traditions are believed to encourage health, wealth and prosperity, so why not create your own good fortune with our guide to help you get your finances in order? Have a financial spring-clean Part of the traditional preparations for Lunar New Year includes …

Market Update 29 January 2021

  Market Update 29 January 2021 Investment markets and key developments over the past week Global share markets fell over the past week hit by a combination of concerns around coronavirus, vaccine roll out and delays to extra US stimulus as US day traders added to volatility. Australian shares fell reflecting the weak global lead with resources, IT, financial and industrial shares seeing the biggest falls. Bond yields fell in the US and Europe but were …